Testing

Hypothesis Testing

Null hypothesis: what we assume is true. Alternative hypothesis: what you are trying to show.

Developing a test

  1. Choose an estimator for the statistic you are working with
  2. Give the form of the test

Ex: reject the null hypothesis if our sample mean is greater than some value c.

  1. Find c
  2. Give a conclusion

Errors

  • Type 1

The null hypothesis is true but you reject it.

Probability of making this error is Denoted alpha, and called level of significance or size of the test.

  • Type 2

The null hypothesis is false but you fail to reject it.

Topics