An industrial psychologist consulting with a chain of music stores knows that the average number of complaints management receives each month throughout the industry is 4, but the population standard deviation is unknown. Nine of the chain's stores were randomly selected to record complaints for one month; the sample mean is 3 complaints, with standard deviation of 1.87. Using 0.05 level of significance (p < 0.05), is the number of complaints received by the chain different from the number of complaints received by music stores in general?
a. State the research/alternate hypothesis and the null hypothesis.
b. Identify the characteristics of the comparison (HO) distribution; specifically, its standard deviation and the quantities used to derive these characteristics.
c. Determine correct distribution, then use level of significance to determine either α or cutoff score(s).
d. Determine either the p-value or the sample statistic.
e. Determine whether to reject/fail to reject the null hypothesis, AND state the result of the test (either research hypothesis supported, or study is inconclusive).