Deci and Ryan (1985, 2001) have shown that there are three fundamental needs that are required for human growth
and fulfillment: relatedness, autonomy, and competence. Based off the existing research on fundamental needs,
Susan predicts that students who have all three needs met in their psychology class will feel happier and more
satisfied with the class. She collects data and finds that students who feel more related and competent do feel happier
but that feeling more autonomous does not seem to matter. Susan thinks that maybe autonomy is only necessary
when people are in situations in which they are not being evaluated. Use the scenario to answer the following
questions (A though E).
A. What is the theory? [1 pt]
B. What is the hypothesis? [1 pt]
C. Is Susan’s hypothesis directional or non-directional? [1 pt]
D. When Susan concluded that that people who reported feeling more autonomous did not seem to report feeling
happier, what type of error (Type I or Type II) might she have made? [1 pt]
E. Susan’s hypothesis was not completely supported by her data. What does this mean for the theory? [1 pt]
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