Project  - Service without a smile

"Service with a smile" is a slogan that many businesses adhere to. However, there are some jobs (e.g. those of judges, law enforcement officers, pollsters) that require neutrality when dealing with the public.  An organization will typically provide "display rules" to guide employees on what emotions they should use when interacting with the public.  A Journal of Applied Psychology (Vol. 96, 2011) study compared the results of surveys conducted using two different types of display rules: positive (requiring a strong display of positive emotion) and a neutral (maintain neutral emotions at all times). In this designed experiment, 145 under-graduate students were randomly assigned to either a positive display rule condition (n1 = 78) or neutral display rule condition (n2 = 67). Each participant was trained on how to conduct the survey using the display rules. As a manipulation check, the researchers asked each participant to rate, on a scale of 1 = "strongly agree" to 5 = "strongly disagree" the statements, "This task requires me to be neutral in my expressions".

a. If the manipulation of the participants was successful, which group should have the larger mean response? Explain.

b. The data for the study (simulated based on information provided in the journal article) are listed in the table below.  Access the data a run an analysis to determine if the manipulation was successful. Conduct a test of hypothesis using an α of your choice.

c. What assumptions, if any, are required for the inference from the test to be valid?

d. Develop a confidence interval for the difference between two groups.

Project Report Outline

1. Introduction

Describe the case scenario in your own words.  Explain the purpose of the study. Maximum 600 words.

 2. Methodology

Describe the methodologiesyou are using for the study.  This may include the concepts and theories involved in the analyses, tests and drawing conclusions.Maximum 600 words.

3. Data

Analyze the data sets with a statistical software package of your choice (SPSS, SAS, R, etc.) as we discussed it in class. Explain the major findings from the data analysis.  Maximum 600 words.

4. Analysis

Answer all the four questions (a, b, c and d) in the case with details.  Need to show necessary steps and calculations.  Length: As much as needed.

5. Conclusion

Draw the conclusions from the study you have conducted.  Also, explain your learning experience and the take away.  Length: As much as needed.