Brain training. The assessment of computerized brain-training programs is a rapidly growing area of research. Researchers are now focusing on whom this training benefits most, what brain functions can be best improved, and which products are most effective. A recent study looked at 487 community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older, each randomly assigned to one of two training groups.
In one group, the participants used a computerized program 1 hour per day. In the other, DVD-based educational programs were shown with quizzes following each video. The training period lasted 8 weeks. The response was the improvement in a composite score obtained from an auditory memory/attention survey given before and after the 8 weeks.32 The results are summarized in the following table:
(a) Given that other studies show a benefit of computerized brain training, state the null and alternative hypotheses.
(b) Report the test statistic, its degrees of freedom, and the P-value. What is your conclusion using significance level α = 0.05?
(c) Can you conclude that this computerized brain training always improves a person's auditory memory better than the DVD program does? If not, explain why.