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198 Mullany and Lay
Table 3: The Data Samples
determined, the means ranged from 78.3 to 114.0, and the standard deviations from
5.8 to 26.8 (Kirton, 1987). The two KAI-score samples obtained in this study thus
exhibit basic statistics that are quite within established limits. These samples also
tested to be approximately normally distributed. In addition, the differences in KAI
scores between users and analysts tested decidedly normal, with p > 0.500. The
above results are consistent with (and hence support) the theory that all three of
these KAI samples are random samples from approximately normal populations.
But for the item referring to speed of comprehension of the system requirements,
the null hypothesis of normality in each case is rejected at a confidence level
of 5%. Certain possibilities are thus implied. These are either that the populations
from which the samples were drawn are not normal, or that the samples were biased
(that is, not random), or that the measuring technique was not reliable. As to the first
of these possibilities, (that is, non-normal parent populations), no conclusions can
be drawn. The parent populations simply are not available for analysis. As far as
biasing of the samples is concerned, it is difficult to see how the sampling technique
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