Module On Test of Hypothesis
Module On Test of Hypothesis
I. OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:
a. illustrate: (i) null hypothesis, (ii) alternative hypothesis, (iii) level of significance,
(iv) rejection region, (v) types of errors in hypothesis testing; and
b. differentiate a One-tailed from Two-tailed test
II. LESSON
The traditional method will be used here. It has been used since the hypothesis
testing method was formulated. The second method, the confidence interval method
The null and the alternative hypotheses are stated together as shown (where k
represents a specified number).
Two-tailed test Right-tailed test Left-tailed test
H o : μ=k H o : μ=k H o : μ=k
H a : μ≠ k H a : μ>k H a : μ<k
The null hypothesis contains the equals sign. This is done because in most
professional journals, and when we test the null hypothesis, the assumption is that the
mean, proportion, or standard deviation is equal to a given specific value. Also when
a researcher conducts a study, he or she is generally looking for evidence to support
the claim. Therefore, the claim should be stated as the alternative hypothesis, i.e.,
using > or < or ≠. Because of this, the alternative hypothesis is sometimes called the
research hypothesis.
A claim, though, can be stated as either the null hypothesis or the alternative
hypothesis; however, the statistical evidence can only support the claim if it is the
alternative hypothesis. Statistical hypothesis can be used to reject the claim if the
claim is the null hypothesis. These facts are important when you are stating the
conclusion of a statistical study.
Solution
1. Since the researcher knows that the mean pulse rate for the population under
study is 82 beats per minute, the hypotheses for this situation are
H o : μ=82 H a : μ≠ 82
The null hypothesis states that the mean will remain unchanged, and the
alternative hypothesis states that it will be different. This test is called a two-
tailed test, since the possible side effects of the medicine could be to raise or
lower the pulse rate.
Definition 22: In a two-tailed test, the null hypothesis should be rejected when
the test value is in either of the two critical regions.
In this situation, the chemist is interested only in increasing the lifetime of the
batteries, so her alternative hypothesis is that the mean is greater than 36 months.
The null hypothesis is that the mean is equal to 36 months. This test is called a
right-tailed test, since the interest is in the increase only.
This is a left-tailed test, since the contractor is interested only in lowering heating
costs.
Definition 23: A one-tailed test indicates that the null hypothesis should be
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GRADUATE SCHOOL
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Naga City
rejected when the test value is in the critical region on one side of the mean. A
one-tailed test is either a right-tailed or a left-tailed, depending on the
direction of the inequality of the alternative hypothesis.
More illustrations:
1. Research Topic: “ A Study on the Performance of Men and Women in the
Licensure Examination for Engineers”
A two-tailed (non-directional) way of stating the statistical hypotheses
Ho: There is no difference in the performance of men and women in the
licensure examination for engineers. ( μm =μ w )
Ha: There is difference in the performance of men and women in the
licensure examination for engineers. ( μm ≠ μ w)
A one-tailed (directional) way of stating the statistical hypotheses
Ho: Women perform equally well as men in the licensure examination for
engineers. ( μw =μ m )
Ha: Women perform better in the licensure examination for engineers than
men. ( μw > μm )
After stating the hypothesis, the researcher designs the study. The
researcher selects the correct statistical test, chooses an appropriate level of
significance, and formulates a plan for conducting the study.
Definition 24: A statistical test uses the data obtained from a sample to make a
decision about whether the null hypothesis should be rejected.
The numerical value obtained from a statistical test is called the test value.
In a statistical test, the mean is computed for the data obtained from the
sample and is compared with the population mean. Then a decision is made to
reject or not reject the null hypothesis on the basis of the value obtained from the
statistical test. If the difference is significant, the null hypothesis is rejected. If the
difference is not significant, then the null hypothesis is not rejected.
In a hypothesis-testing situation, there are four possible outcomes. In
reality, the null hypothesis may or may not be true, and a decision is made to
reject or not reject it on the basis of the data obtained from a sample, as shown in
the following illustration. Notice that there are two possibilities for a correct
decision and two possibilities for an incorrect decision.
H o true H o false
Remarks: It is often argued that our only two choices are to (1) reject or (2) not
reject the null hypothesis. It is never possible to prove beyond any doubt that the
*** INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF YUMIVIVIEN V. DE LUNA. DO NOT REPRODUCE OR
DISTRIBUTE WITHOUT THE AUTHOR’S PERMISSION ***
GRADUATE SCHOOL
Ateneo de Naga University
Naga City
Definition 25: A type I error occurs if you reject the null hypothesis when it
is true. A type II error occurs if you do not reject the null hypothesis when it
is false.
Definition 27: The critical value separates the critical region from the
noncritical region. The symbol for critical value is c.v.
The critical or rejection region is the range of values of the test value that
indicates that there is a significant difference and that the null hypothesis
should be rejected.
The noncritical or nonrejection region is the range of values of the test value
that indicates that there is no significant difference (the difference was probably
due to chance) and that the null hypothesis should not be rejected.
Bohnenblust, S., and Kuzma, J., Statistics for the Health Sciences , 5th edition,
McGraw Hill, 2005.
Gonzales, J., and Nocon, R., Essential Statistics , Mutya Publishing, 2013.
Parel, E., and Alonzo, A., Introduction to Statistical Methods, 5th edition.