Question:
Can pleasant smells improve learning? Researchers performed an experiment in which 42 subjects were randomly assigned to one of two comparison groups. Subjects assigned to the "treatment" group completed a paper-and-pencil maze with the presence of a floral aroma. Subjects assigned to the control group completed a paper-and-pencil maze without the presence of the floral aroma. All subjects were timed as to how long it took them to complete the maze (in seconds). Determine if there is evidence that the floral scent improved the subjects' ability to complete the maze? (That is, is the average time to complete the maze faster in the presence of the floral aroma than without?) Answer these questions to answer the question of interest:
1. Obtain the test-statistic and p-value. Report the test-statistic with degrees of freedom and the p-value here.
2. Report and interpret a 95% confidence interval for the difference in the mean time to complete the maze between those in the presence of the floral aroma and those not in the presence of the floral aroma.
Unscented (25.7, 41.9, 51.9, 32.3, 64.7, 31.4, 40.1, 43.2, 33.9, 40.4, 58.0, 61.5, 44.6, 35.3, 37.2, 39.4, 77.4, 52.8, 63.6, 56.6, 58.9)
Scented (30.2, 56.7, 42.4, 34.4, 44.8, 42.9, 42.7, 24.8, 25.1, 59.2, 42.2, 48.4, 32.0, 48.1, 33.7, 42.6, 54.9, 64.5, 43.1, 52.8, 44.3)