Data Analysis (10 Points)

1. Create a graph for each set of data or create a single graph that displays both sets of
data.

2. Calculate the mean, median, and range for each set of data.
No Yoga
Mean = 10.8
Median = 11
Range = 7

Yoga
Mean = 14.8
Median = 16
Range = 6
 3. Calculate the standard deviation for each data set. *Use formula from e-text.

No Yoga:

Mean = (7 + 9 + 11 + 13 + 14) / 5 = 10.8

standard deviation = 2.86

Yoga:

Mean = (11 + 14 + 15 + 17 + 17) / 5 = 14.8

standard deviation = 2.48

The standard deviation for the No Yoga group is 2.56 and the standard deviation for the Yoga
group is 2.48.

Research Methods (10 Points)

4. Do the results of the study support the hypothesis?

The study results tell us that yoga before a memory exercise does improve short-term memory.
The group that did yoga had consistently higher scores than the group that did not participate
in yoga. The Yoga group showed improvement in their scores over time, while the scores of the
No Yoga group increased marginally. The scores of the No Yoga group had greater standard
deviation than the Yoga group. As such, the study results support the hypothesis that regular
practice of yoga can enhance concentration and focus and ultimately improve short term
memory.

5. Describe the research methods used in the study.

The study employed a randomized controlled trial to investigate the effect of regular yoga
practice on short-term memory. College-age students were randomly assigned to two groups,
one that did not practice yoga and another that practiced yoga for 30 minutes prior to a
memory exercise each week for five weeks. Participants were given 20 terms and their
definitions to review for 15 minutes, followed by a memory test 30 minutes later. This is a
delayed free recall test.

We used descriptive statistics to identify variations in the data. Our results ultimately supported
the hypothesis that practicing yoga enhances concentration and focus.

6. What are other factors that may have impacted the results?
Some other factors that could influence results are the sleep levels of participants, the
individual differences, the gap in ages, the Hawthorne effect, and any activities that the No
Yoga group might have done that might affect memory.

7. If this study were replicated, what additional controls could be used to strengthen the
study?
If this study were to be replicated, the new study could narrow the age range of participants,
monitoring extraneous variables such as sleep, and a larger sample diversity to ensure results
that reflect a demographic.

8. Explain the importance of operational definitions.

Operational definitions are important in research because they provide clear and specific
definitions of variables or concepts. This makes the experiment clearer, more valid, and easier
to replicate. They enable researchers to define objectives and measure phenomena
consistently, while comparing findings across other studies.