Are All Texts Created Equal?

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INDEPENDENT-SAMPLES t TEST: ARE ALL TEXTS CREATED EQUAL?
Are All Texts Created Equal?
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Welcome

Are All Texts Created Equal?

Authors:

Kelly M. Goedert, Seton Hall University

Susan A. Nolan, Seton Hall University

Kaylise D. Algrim, Seton Hall University

In this smartphone-dependent era, we spend a lot of time looking at screens. But are we all driven to our screens for the same reasons? One study hypothesized that people text for a variety of different reasons that go beyond simply trying to communicate a message (Schroeder & Sims, 2018). This study looked at what we text each other, and what drives us to text in a particular situation.

Researchers developed a list of texting behaviors, including “texting to tell a joke or make someone laugh,” “texting while in a new place with unfamiliar people,” “texting while exercising,” and “texting to make someone jealous.” Respondents rated how often they texted for each of these reasons on a scale from “never” to “very often.” Based on these ratings, the experimenters identified six primary situations in which people text: (1) to make social connections, (2) to escape the current situation (e.g., while waiting in line, while in a room full of people you don’t know), (3) to distract from a current task (e.g., while studying), (4) to shock (audacious texting), (5) to offer nurturing communication, and (6) while driving. The researchers then analyzed whether there were differences between women and men in their reasons for texting.

Work candidates using mobile phone while waiting for job interview.
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Do you agree or disagree that women and men have different reasons for texting?

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Researchers used an independent-samples t test to test for differences between women and men in their reasons for texting. Final scores on the scale are depicted in the table. Higher numbers indicate greater frequency of that form of texting behavior, with a possible range of 2 to 6. The researchers found the following results:

Differences between women and men in reasons for texting
Reason for texting Men (N = 179) M (SD) Women (N = 248) M (SD) Statistical test and effect size
Social connection 4.42 (0.60) 4.64 (0.65) t(425) = –3.70, p < 0.001, d = 0.35
Escapist 4.32 (0.69) 4.64 (0.70) t(425) = –4.83, p < 0.001, d = 0.46
Distracted 2.87 (0.59) 3.04 (0.65) t(425) = –2.87, p < 0.01, d = 0.27
Audacious 2.72 (0.62) 2.63 (0.60) t(425) = 1.47, p > 0.05, d = 0.15
Nurturing 4.14 (0.99) 4.50 (0.99) t(425) = –3.78, p < 0.001, d = 0.36
Driving 3.45 (0.79) 3.62 (0.99) t(425) = –1.85, p > 0.05, d = 0.19
The difference between women and men for each texting reason was tested using an independent-samples t test. Which of the following is a defining feature of an independent-samples t test?
Correct! Independent-samples t tests are used when there are two groups, and all participants are in only one of the two groups.
Actually, independent-samples t tests are used when there are two groups, and all participants are in only one of the two groups.

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Differences between women and men in reasons for texting
Reason for texting Men (N = 179) M (SD) Women (N = 248) M (SD) Statistical test and effect size
Social connection 4.42 (0.60) 4.64 (0.65) t(425) = –3.70, p < 0.001, d = 0.35
Escapist 4.32 (0.69) 4.64 (0.70) t(425) = –4.83, p < 0.001, d = 0.46
Distracted 2.87 (0.59) 3.04 (0.65) t(425) = –2.87, p < 0.01, d = 0.27
Audacious 2.72 (0.62) 2.63 (0.60) t(425) = 1.47, p > 0.05, d = 0.15
Nurturing 4.14 (0.99) 4.50 (0.99) t(425) = –3.78, p < 0.001, d = 0.36
Driving 3.45 (0.79) 3.62 (0.99) t(425) = –1.85, p > 0.05, d = 0.19
What can we learn from the results of the independent-samples t test for the dependent variable of social connection?
Correct! The p value associated with the comparison of men and women’s social connection texts was p < 0.001, which is less than the typical alpha level of 0.05, and we can see from their means that women sent these kinds of texts more frequently than men did, on average.
Actually, the p value associated with the comparison of men and women’s social connection texts was p < 0.001, which is less than the typical alpha level of 0.05, and we can see from their means that women sent these kinds of texts more frequently than men did, on average.

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Differences between women and men in reasons for texting
Reason for texting Men (N = 179) M (SD) Women (N = 248) M (SD) Statistical test and effect size
Social connection 4.42 (0.60) 4.64 (0.65) t(425) = –3.70, p < 0.001, d = 0.35
Escapist 4.32 (0.69) 4.64 (0.70) t(425) = –4.83, p < 0.001, d = 0.46
Distracted 2.87 (0.59) 3.04 (0.65) t(425) = –2.87, p < 0.01, d = 0.27
Audacious 2.72 (0.62) 2.63 (0.60) t(425) = 1.47, p > 0.05, d = 0.15
Nurturing 4.14 (0.99) 4.50 (0.99) t(425) = –3.78, p < 0.001, d = 0.36
Driving 3.45 (0.79) 3.62 (0.99) t(425) = –1.85, p > 0.05, d = 0.19
Which comparison of mean differences (men versus women) had the smallest effect size?
Correct! The Cohen’s d associated with audacious texts, 0.15, was the smallest effect size.
Actually, the Cohen’s d associated with audacious texts, 0.15, was the smallest effect size.

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Differences between women and men in reasons for texting
Reason for texting Men (N = 179) M (SD) Women (N = 248) M (SD) Statistical test and effect size
Social connection 4.42 (0.60) 4.64 (0.65) t(425) = –3.70, p < 0.001, d = 0.35
Escapist 4.32 (0.69) 4.64 (0.70) t(425) = –4.83, p < 0.001, d = 0.46
Distracted 2.87 (0.59) 3.04 (0.65) t(425) = –2.87, p < 0.01, d = 0.27
Audacious 2.72 (0.62) 2.63 (0.60) t(425) = 1.47, p > 0.05, d = 0.15
Nurturing 4.14 (0.99) 4.50 (0.99) t(425) = –3.78, p < 0.001, d = 0.36
Driving 3.45 (0.79) 3.62 (0.99) t(425) = –1.85, p > 0.05, d = 0.19
Several independent-sample t tests tested for differences between men and women in their reasons for texting. Based on the data in the table, which of the following is true?
Correct! The Cohen’s d associated with escapist texting, 0.46, was largest.
Actually, the Cohen’s d associated with escapist texting, 0.46, was largest.

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An independent-samples t test compared the mean ratings for how often men and women text while distracted (e.g., multitasking while watching a movie, while exercising, or in a meeting). What is the independent variable?
Correct! Gender is the independent variable.
Actually, gender is the independent variable.

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Differences between women and men in reasons for texting
Reason for texting Men (N = 179) M (SD) Women (N = 248) M (SD) Statistical test and effect size
Social connection 4.42 (0.60) 4.64 (0.65) t(425) = –3.70, p < 0.001, d = 0.35
Escapist 4.32 (0.69) 4.64 (0.70) t(425) = –4.83, p < 0.001, d = 0.46
Distracted 2.87 (0.59) 3.04 (0.65) t(425) = –2.87, p < 0.01, d = 0.27
Audacious 2.72 (0.62) 2.63 (0.60) t(425) = 1.47, p > 0.05, d = 0.15
Nurturing 4.14 (0.99) 4.50 (0.99) t(425) = –3.78, p < 0.001, d = 0.36
Driving 3.45 (0.79) 3.62 (0.99) t(425) = –1.85, p > 0.05, d = 0.19
Several independent-sample t tests tested for differences between men and women in their reasons for texting. Based on the data in the table, for which texting reasons were the differences between men and women statistically significant?
Correct! All four of these reasons had p values less than the typical alpha level of 0.05. The other two reasons, audacious and driving, did not.
Actually, social connection, escapist, distracted, and nurturing communication were all statistically significant reasons, in that all had p values less than the typical alpha level of 0.05. The other two reasons, audacious and driving, did not.

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The bottom line: We’re not short of reasons for texting. They just may not all be the same reasons.

People stare at smartphones while waiting for luggage at airport baggage claim.
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REFERENCES

Schroeder, B. L., & Sims, V. K. (2018). Texting as a multidimensional behavior: Individual differences and measurement of texting behaviors. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 7, 361–383. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000148