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7: Introduction to Hypothesis Testing

  • Page ID
    42027
    • Linda R. Cote, Rupa G. Gordon, Chrislyn E. Randell, Judy Schmitt, and Helena Marvin
    • University of Missouri System

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    • 7.1: The Logic and Purpose of Hypothesis Testing
      This page explains hypothesis testing through z tests, using a James Bond example to illustrate the challenge of conclusively proving abilities based on sample data. It emphasizes that Bond's correct identification of martinis may be coincidental. Additionally, a case study on physicians and obese patients highlights the significance of probability values in determining outcomes and clarifying their meaning in relation to hypotheses.
    • 7.2: The Null and Alternative Hypotheses
      This page explains the null hypothesis (\(H_0\)), which asserts no effect or difference exists in a study, illustrated with examples like comparing physicians' time with different patient weights. It serves as a baseline, often equating a population parameter to zero. If rejected, the alternative hypothesis (\(H_A\) or \(H_1\), linked to the research question) is accepted, with both directional and non-directional forms discussed per the research context.
    • 7.3: Critical Values, p-Values, and Significance Level
      This page explains hypothesis testing and the rejection of the null hypothesis, highlighting significance levels (α), with common thresholds of 0.05 and 0.01. It differentiates between statistical significance (rejecting the null) and practical significance (effect size), noting that misinterpretations may occur due to shifting definitions.
    • 7.4: Steps of the Hypothesis Testing Process
      This page outlines a four-step hypothesis testing procedure: 1) formulate null and alternative hypotheses; 2) find critical values based on significance levels; 3) calculate test statistics and effect sizes; 4) decide on the null hypothesis, with interpretation in context. Two examples illustrate this: a one-tailed test shows average temperature exceeding 74 degrees, leading to null rejection; a two-tailed test for a sample mean of 60.
    • 7.5: Considerations in Hypothesis Testing
      This page discusses hypothesis testing, highlighting the risks of Type I and Type II errors. A Type I error incorrectly rejects a true null hypothesis, influenced by the significance level (\(\alpha\)), while a Type II error results from failing to reject a false null hypothesis and shouldn't be labeled as an error.


    This page titled 7: Introduction to Hypothesis Testing is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Linda R. Cote, Rupa G. Gordon, Chrislyn E. Randell, Judy Schmitt, and Helena Marvin via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.