Question

Six months after a divorce, the former wife and husband each take a test that measures divorce adjustment. The wife’s score is 63, and the husband’s score is 59. Overall, the mean score for divorced women on this test is 60 (SD = 6); the mean score for divorced men is 55 (SD = 4). Which of the two has adjusted better to the divorce in relation to other divorced people of their own gender? Explain your answer to a person who has never had a course in statistics

Answer 1

Note that
(63 – 60)/6 = 1/2
(59 – 55)/4 = 1
So, in relation to other divorced women, the score of 63 is only 1/2 SD above the average. But in relation to other divorced men, the score of 59 is 1 SD above the average. That means the husband has adjusted better to the divorce in the relation to other divorced people of his gender.