Hypothesis Testing
- A method of making statistical decisions using experimental data
Used to test assumptions (claims) about a population parameter based on sample data
ull Hypothesis (H₀)
N
- Represents the default or status quo assumption
- Assumes no effect, no difference, or no relationship between variables
- Always contains equality ( =, ≥, ≤ )
Purpose:to test whether there's enough evidenceagainstit
Examples:
● H₀: μ = 50 (the population mean is 50)
● H₀: p ≥ 0.7 (the population proportion is at least 70%)
Note: If evidence is strong, we reject H₀
lternative Hypothesis (H₁ or Ha)
A
- Represents what you aim to support or prove
- Indicates the presence of an effect, difference, or relationship
- Always contains inequality ( ≠, >, < )
Purpose:proposed if H₀ is rejected
Examples:
● H₁: μ ≠ 50 (the mean is not 50)
● H₁: p < 0.7 (the proportion is less than 70%)
Note: Direction depends on research
question
● One-tailed: H₁ uses < or >
● Two-tailed: H₁ uses ≠
Steps in Hypothesis Testing
.
1 tate H₀ and H₁
S
2. Choose a significance level (α, usually 0.05)
3. Collect and analyze sample data
4. Compute test statistic (e.g., z, t)
5. Compare with critical value or use p-value
6. Make a decision:
○ If p-value ≤ α →Reject H₀
○ If p-value > α →Fail to reject H₀
ype I and Type II Errors
T
- Types of incorrect decisions that may occur in hypothesis testing
- Related to the truth or falsity of the null hypothesis (H₀) and what decision is made based on the
data
ype I Error (α)
T
- Occurs when we reject the null hypothesis (H₀) even though it is actually true
- Also called a false positive
- We detect an effect that isn’t really there
Example:
- A person is diagnosed with a disease (reject H₀) but is actually healthy (H₀ is true)
Controlled by: Significance level (α)
– Common value: α = 0.05
Type II Error (β)
- ccurs when we fail to reject the null hypothesis (H₀) even though it is actually false
O
- Also called a false negative
- We fail to detect an effect that is really there
Example:
- A person is told they’re healthy (fail to reject H₀) but actually has the disease (H₀ is false)
Related to: Power of the test
– Power = 1 - β
Error Summary Table
ecision Made
D
– H₀ is True → Type I Error (α)
– H₀ is False → Type II Error (β)
– Reject H₀ → may lead to Type I Error if H₀ is true
– Fail to Reject H₀ → may lead to Type II Error if H₀ is false
egend:
L
– H₀ = Null Hypothesis
– α = Probability of Type I Error
– β = Probability of Type II Error
– Power = Probability of detecting a true effect (1 − β)
Note:
– Lowering α reduces Type I errors but increases the chance of Type II errors
– Increasing sample size helps reduce both errors
