The psychological consequences of slavery for African Americans are discussed widely in society. In order to discuss the problem in detail with references to the statistical analysis, it is necessary to find the answer to the following research question: Do those African Americans who identify themselves as the descendants of slaves experience more stress and psychological problems in their personal and social life? In order to find the answer to the proposed question, it is appropriate to use a two-sample t test based on the independent samples.
The t test can be effectively applied to the research because it provides the opportunity to understand the differences between the groups of African Americans whose identity is influenced by the concept of slavery and those African Americans whose identity is not affected. Furthermore, this test is appropriate to discuss the connection between categorical and numerical variables. The research is focused on testing the following hypotheses:
- H0: There is no relationship between African Americans’ understanding of themselves as former slaves and psychological problems in their personal and social life.
- H1: Those African Americans who identify themselves as the descendants of slaves experience more stress and psychological problems in their personal and social life.
Methods
The participants of the survey are the African American students studying in colleges and universities. The test requires the focus on two independent groups of students, including 15 participants. The size of the whole sample is 30 participants. The required 30 participants will be selected according to the convenience sampling principle where the focus is on students of the colleges and universities located within the community. Such demographics as the age between 21-29 and the belonging to the black race are required. Participants will be selected according to the principle of 50% male and 50% female population.
Procedures
The dependent variable is the level of the stress and psychological problems experienced by the African American participants in their personal and social life. The ratio scale of measurement will be used to assess the changes in the variable. While referring to the variable’s characteristics, it is important to note that the focus is on the continuous variable because of the necessity to examine the changes in the level of stress and other experienced problems.
Thus, the operational definition of the dependent variable is the following one: the level of the stress and psychological problems is frequency according to which the African Americans note that they feel stress, suffer from anxiety, they cannot cope with daily problems, and they are discriminated, violated, and oppressed. The variables will be measured with the number of noticed psychological problems during a week, a month, and a year to state frequency and percentage.
The independent variable is the identity of the African American as a descendent of a slave or a non-descendant. The scale of measurement is nominal to assess the categories. Thus, the variable can be characterized as categorical or qualitative. The operational definition is the following one: the identity of the African American referred to the aspect of slavery is the vision of oneself as a descendent of a slave or a non-descendant. As a result, the variable will be measured according to such categories as the discussion of oneself as a descendent of a slave or the acceptance of the slavery aspect and as the discussion of oneself as a non-descendant or the rejection of the slavery aspect (Huck, 2012, p. 124).
Results
The statistical test which will be used to conduct the assessment is a two-sample t test based on the independent samples. This test provides the researcher with the opportunity to discuss the differences between groups and conclude whether a certain factor can influence the determined phenomenon or process. The significant focus is on the differences rather than on the relationship.
That is why the t-test is chosen to state whether the African Americans who discuss themselves as descendants of slave experience more psychological problems. The test is appropriate for the research because it discusses the obvious connection between categorical and numerical variables, which identified as the independent and dependent variables in this research.
The information obtained from the results of the test will include the numerical data on the frequency of experiencing psychological problems and stress by the African Americans who identify themselves as the descendants of slaves. The frequency of experiencing psychological problems will also be assessed with references to the African Americans who reject the slavery heritage. The comparison of the numbers will provide the information necessary to state whether the identification of oneself as a descendent of slaves can influence the psychological state and frequency of stresses to affect more frequent problems. These numbers will be necessary to draw conclusions in relation to the state hypotheses.
Discussion
The expected biases and faults associated with the research are connected with the fact that the selected participants can hide their real attitude to their African American identity in relation to the slavery aspect. Furthermore, it is necessary to avoid the biases connected with the idea that all African Americans discuss themselves as oppressed or discriminated in personal and social life. While using the identified statistical test, it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that not only the frequency of the experienced psychological problems but also the percentage related to the incidents should be taken into account while concluding about the results.
Possible conclusions made in relation to the research problem can be associated with the fact that the majority of African Americans do not identify themselves as the descendants of slaves; the levels of stress are higher, and the psychological problems are more typical for the African Americans who identify themselves as the descendants of slaves; the levels of stress are higher, and the psychological problems are more typical for African Americans who do not identify themselves as the descendants of slaves; the connection is not obvious, and the levels and frequency are diverse (American Psychological Association, 2010, p. 12). The practical significance of the results is in the opportunity to use the findings by sociologists, psychologists, and counselors working with African Americans who can suffer from different types of psychological problems.
Conclusion
The question on whether African Americans who identify themselves as the descendants of slaves experience more stress and psychological problems in their personal and social life is important to be discussed because of the obvious practical significance of the research. Using the t-test, it is possible to receive accurate results and make appropriate conclusions while concluding about the appropriateness of the stated hypotheses.
References
American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Huck, S. W. (2012). Reading statistics and research. Boston, MA: Pearson.