Question

Lycopene is a bright red pigment that has been shown to have powerful antioxidant and anticarcinogenic properties. A biological research company conducts experiments in which seeds from cherry tomatoes are exposed to a series of pulsations of ultra-violet radiation with the aim of triggering a genetic mutation to increase lycopene production. It is well established from past experiments that the lycopene content for untreated cherry tomatoes is 12.7 mg/100g. A random sample of 36 treated seeds from a population of 9207 seeds of an identical variant was selected and was planted and grown in identical conditions. The mean lycopene content of the treated seeds was determined via mass spectrometry to be 13.1 mg/100g and a standard deviation of 1.2.

Suppose that the experiment was repeated with more seeds, but coincidentally resulted in the same sample mean and sample standard deviation. How would this change the P-value of our hypothesis test?

Select One:

1.  It would not change the P-value relative to the first test.

2. It is not possible to know how this would affect the P-value without more information.

3. It would increase the P-value relative to the first test.

4.  It would decrease the P-value relative to the first test.

Answer 1

since increased sample size will reduce standard error of mean

Therefore test statistic =(X-mean)/standard error will increase and in turn will give small p value

correct option is:

4.  It would decrease the P-value relative to the first test.