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A Simple Recommendation for the Analysis of Matching Data.

Authors :
Levine, Douglas W.
Source :
Psychological Methods; Dec2023, Vol. 28 Issue 6, p1242-1250, 9p
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

The matching paradigm can take a number of forms and has been used in many areas of psychology. When participants are asked to match or order sets of objects, researchers must correctly account for the number of matches expected purely by chance. Not accounting for the expected chance matches can lead to incorrectly drawing conclusions based on one's data. This study demonstrated that the z test can be an appropriate and easy test to use in the analysis of matching data from studies that require pairs of objects to be matched with each other. This article proves that in a matching paradigm the expected number of chance matches is 1.0 and the associated variance is also 1.0. The z test is shown to maintain the Type I error close to the nominal significance level when the null hypothesis is true and the sample size is at least 80 or 110. To attain power of .80, a sample size larger than 80 may be needed depending upon the effect size associated with the area of interest and the hypothesized alternative probability distribution. The matching paradigm can take a number of forms and has been used in many areas of psychology. When participants are asked to match, or order, sets of objects researchers must correctly account for the number of matches expected purely by chance. Not accounting for the expected chance matches can lead to incorrectly drawing conclusions based on one's data. This study demonstrated that the simple one-sample z test can be an appropriate and easy test to use in the analysis of matching data from studies that require pairs of objects to be matched with each other. When the null hypothesis is true (i.e., matches are occurring by chance) and the sample size is at least 80 or 110, the z test is shown to maintain the Type I error close to the alpha (significance) level researchers selected. To attain power of .80 a sample size larger than 80 may be needed depending upon the effect size associated with the area of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1082989X
Volume :
28
Issue :
6
Database :
Supplemental Index
Journal :
Psychological Methods
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
174569701
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1037/met0000474