Computer-mediated communication (CMC) is a form of interaction that heavily involves technology (e. g., instant messaging, email). A study was conducted to compare relational intimacy in people interacting via CMC to people meeting face-to-face (FTF). Participants were 48 undergraduate students, of which half were randomly assigned to the CMC group and half assigned to the FTF group. The variable of interest, relational intimacy score, was measured (on a 7-point scale) for each participant after each of three different meeting sessions. Summary statistics for the first meeting session are given here. The researchers hypothesized that, after the first meeting, the mean relational intimacy score for participants in the CMC group would be lower than the mean relational intimacy score for participants in the FTF group. Test the researchers’ hypothesis using α = .10.
CMC FTF
Number of Participants 24 24
Sample Mean 3.54 3.53
Standard Deviation .49 .38
Please follow these steps:
1. State the null and alternate hypothesis.
2. significance level used.
3. Test statistic.
4. p-value.
5. Decision.
6. Conclusion.