Question: "Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation," on the CD. For this study, volunteers were randomly assigned to a meditation group (25 participants) or a control group (16 participants). The meditation group received an 8-week meditation training program. Both groups were given influenza shots and their antibodies were measured. This measurement was taken after the meditation group had been practicing meditation for about 8 weeks. The researchers also measured brain activity, but these exercises will not explore that part of the study.
Another quote in the article is In response to the influenza vaccine, the meditators displayed a significantly greater rise in antibody titers from the 4 to 8 week blood draw compared with the controls [t(33) 2.05, p .05, Figure 5]. (Davidson et al., p. 566)
a. Specify in words the null hypothesis being tested. Make sure you don't confuse the population with the sample and that you state the hypothesis using the correct one.
b. Specify in words the alternative hypothesis being tested. Explain whether you decided to use a one-sided or a two-sided test and why.
c. What is the meaning of the word significantly in the quote?
d. Explain in plain English what the results of this test mean.