Ten performance halls are randomly selected from a regional network. Each hall's echo-decay time is measured before and after an acoustic treatment. Let \(d=\text{after}-\text{before}\), in seconds. The observed differences are \(-0.12,-0.05,-0.18,-0.09,-0.14,-0.02,-0.11,-0.08,-0.16,-0.07\), and the differences show no strong skewness or outliers.
At \(\alpha=0.01\), test whether the population mean echo-decay time is lower after the treatment than before it. Give the test statistic to two decimal places and the p-value to six decimal places.
Hints
- Turn each before-and-after pair into one change with a consistent subtraction order.
- Check the direction of the alternative against what “lower after” means for that change.
- Separate evidence of a before/after mean difference from evidence that the treatment caused that difference.
Solution
1. Test \(H_0:\mu_d=0\) versus \(H_a:\mu_d<0\), where \(d=\text{after}-\text{before}\).
2. The sample has \(\bar{d}=-0.102\,\text{s}\) and \(s_d\approx0.0498\,\text{s}\). The random sample and difference distribution support a one-sample paired-difference \(t\)-test with \(df=9\).
3. The test statistic is \(t=\frac{-0.102}{0.0498/\sqrt{10}}\approx-6.47\).
4. The one-sided p-value is approximately \(0.000058\).
5. Since the p-value is less than \(0.01\), reject \(H_0\). There is convincing evidence that the population mean echo-decay time is lower after the acoustic treatment than before it.
6. Because every sampled hall was observed before and after treatment without a randomized untreated comparison, this result does not by itself establish that the treatment caused the decrease.
Answer
\(H_0:\mu_d=0\), \(H_a:\mu_d<0\); \(t\approx-6.47\), p-value \(\approx0.000058\). Reject \(H_0\). The data provide convincing evidence that population mean echo-decay time is lower after treatment than before treatment, but this before/after design alone does not establish causation.