For a study with 100 participants, if there are four levels of the first IV with 25 participants each, is the overall n considered to be 50?

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Prepare for UCF's PSY3204C Statistical Methods in Psychology Quiz 3. Use interactive tools and engaging quizzes to solidify your understanding of statistics in psychology, and enhance your chances of success.

The overall sample size, or n, for the study is determined by the total number of participants included in the analysis. In this case, there are 100 participants total, divided evenly across four levels of the independent variable, with each level having 25 participants.

Therefore, the overall n is not 50; it is actually 100. This implies that the correct understanding of n in this context is that it reflects the total number of participants available for analysis rather than the number of participants per condition or level of the independent variable. Each level's participant count contributes to the overall sample size, so stating that n is 50 misrepresents the total sample size for the study.

When assessing studies, it's essential to recognize that the overall n encompasses all participants involved and not just those in a single condition. This clarity helps in understanding the structure of research design and its implications for statistical analysis.