Testing of Hypothesis
Testing of Hypothesis
What is a Hypothesis?
A Hypothesis is an assumption about the population parameter.
A Parameter is characteristic of the population, like its mean or variance.
The Parameter must be identified before analysis.
For an example, we can say that a teacher may assume the average weight of the class
is 58 kg.
Testing of Hypothesis
A Hypothesis is an assumption about the population parameter (say population mean)
which is to be tested.
For that we collect sample data, then we calculate sample statistics (say sample mean)
and the use this information to decide whether hypothesized value of population
parameter is correct or not.
To test the validity of assumed or hypothetical value of population, we gather sample
data and determine the difference between hypothesized value and actual value of the
sample mean.
Then we judge whether the difference is significant or not.
The smaller the difference, the greater the likelihood that our hypothesized value for
the mean is correct. The larger the difference, the smaller the likelihood.
In hypothesis, testing the 1st step is to state the assumed or hypothesized (numerical)
value of the population parameter.
The assumption we wish/want to test is called the null hypothesis. The symbol for
null hypothesis is H0
Step 1:
Set up a hypothesis.
Step 2:
The confidence with which an experimenter rejects or accepts Null Hypothesis depends upon
the level adopted. Level of significance is the rejection region (which is outside the
confidence or acceptance region). It is the probability of error in rejecting or accepting the
hypothesis. The level of significance, usually denoted by the alpha a.
Through any level of significance can be adopted, in practice we either take 5% or 1% level
of significance.
When we take 5% level of significance (a=0.5), then there are about 5 chances out of 100 that
we would reject the null hypothesis. In other words, out of 100, 95% chances are there that
null hypothesis will be accepted i.e. we are about 95% confident that we have made the right
decision.
If our sample statistic (calculated value) fall in the non-shaded region (acceptance region),
then it simply means that there is no evidence to reject the null hypothesis.
Step 3:
Step 4:
Step 5:
Step 6:
If computed value (absolute value) is more than the tabulated or critical value, then it falls in
the critical region. In that case, reject null hypothesis, otherwise accept.