Question

A data collection method is described to investigate a difference in means. In each case, determine which data analysis method is more appropriate: paired data difference in means or difference in means with two separate groups. In a study to determine whether the color red increases how attractive men find women, one group of men rate the attractiveness of a woman after seeing her picture on a red background and another group of men rate the same woman after seeing her picture on a white background.

Short answer

The appropriate data analysis method is the 'difference in means with two separate groups'.

Step-by-step solution

Identifying the Groups

In the given exercise, there are two groups of men rating the attractiveness of the same woman under different background colours - red and white. However, these are two different groups of men, which means each man is not exposed to both variables (red and white backgrounds).

Determine the Type of Data

Given that each man is only exposed to one variable, this means that the measurements (ratings) given by one group cannot be paired with those given by another group. Therefore, we don't have paired data.

Selecting the Appropriate Data Analysis Method

Since we have two separate groups giving ratings and the data is not paired, the appropriate data analysis method would be 'difference in means with two separate groups'. This method is used when comparing the means of two independent or unrelated groups.