A researcher is interested in whether or not children diagnosed with autism differ from other children in the number of digits from a list that they can correctly repeat back to the experimenter. It is known that the average number of digits that children without autism in the population can repeat back is = 7.8. A sample of 10 children with autism yielded the scores shown in the table below; the table shows how many digits each participant was able to repeat back to the experimenter.
Q. Continuing with this example, (i.e. the same population mean, etc.), calculate the effect size for the comparison of the autistic and non-autistic children, using Cohen's d. Also, calculate r2 for this problem. How large of an effect size is this, small, medium, or large
Researching and Formulating a Thesis Statement
Title: The Impact of Autism on Digit Span Recall in Children
Introduction
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that affects communication, behavior, and social interaction. One area of interest in researching autism is understanding how it may impact cognitive abilities, such as memory. This essay aims to explore the differences in digit span recall between children diagnosed with autism and those without, considering the effect size and statistical significance of these differences.
Thesis Statement
Children diagnosed with autism demonstrate a significant difference in digit span recall compared to their neurotypical counterparts, as evidenced by the effect size calculations using Cohen's d and r².
Research Findings
In a study comparing the digit span recall abilities of children with autism to those without, the mean digit span recall for neurotypical children was found to be 7.8 digits. A sample of 10 children with autism participated in the study, and their individual digit span recall scores were recorded. By calculating the effect size using Cohen's d and r², we can quantitatively determine the magnitude of the difference in digit span recall between the two groups.
Effect Size Calculation
Cohen's d is a commonly used measure to quantify the effect size of the difference between two groups. It is calculated by finding the difference in means between the two groups and dividing it by the pooled standard deviation.
In this case, we would calculate Cohen's d by subtracting the mean digit span recall of children with autism from the mean digit span recall of neurotypical children (7.8) and dividing it by the pooled standard deviation of the two groups.
Interpretation of Effect Size
After calculating Cohen's d, we can interpret the effect size as small, medium, or large based on established criteria. A small effect size suggests that there is a small difference between the two groups, while a large effect size indicates a substantial difference.
Conclusion
In conclusion,
understanding the impact of autism on cognitive functions such as memory is crucial for providing appropriate support and interventions for children diagnosed with autism. By analyzing the effect size of differences in digit span recall between autistic and non-autistic children, we can gain valuable insights into how autism may influence cognitive abilities. Further research in this area can help improve our understanding of autism and inform targeted interventions to support individuals with ASD.
References
- Insert references and citations as needed to support the information presented in the essay.