Hypothesis Testing

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to hypothesis testing, including definitions of hypotheses, errors, significance levels, p-values, and decisions.

Hypothesis Testing

A systematic process involving developing hypotheses, choosing a significance level, determining a statistical test, running analysis, making a decision about the null hypothesis, and drawing a conclusion.

Hypotheses

Statements that predict the relationship between variables, are testable, and translate the research question into a prediction of the outcome.

Null Hypothesis

A statement predicting no difference between groups or no relationship between variables.

Research Hypothesis

A statement predicting a difference between groups or a relationship between variables.

Directional Hypothesis

A type of research hypothesis that predicts a specific direction of the relationship or difference between variables.

Non-directional Hypothesis

A type of research hypothesis that predicts a relationship or difference between variables without specifying the direction.

Level of Significance (α)

Criteria used to determine statistical significance, determined before data collection, representing the percentage of time a researcher will conclude a statistically significant difference or relationship when there truly isn't one (Type I error).

Type I Error

The probability of incorrectly rejecting the null hypothesis (concluding a difference or relationship exists when it doesn't), which is equal to the Level of Significance (α).

Type II Error

The probability of incorrectly accepting the null hypothesis (concluding no difference or relationship exists when it does).

Statistical Test

A method chosen based on the number of variables, levels of measurement, and assumptions of the test, used to analyze data.

Probability

The relative likelihood that a certain event will or will not occur, relative to some other event.

p Value

The probability that the observed difference, or one larger, could have arisen by chance.

Reject the Null Hypothesis

The decision made when the calculated p value is LESS than the level of significance, indicating a statistically significant finding.

Fail to Reject the Null Hypothesis

The decision made when the calculated p value is GREATER than the level of significance, indicating no statistically significant finding.

Conclusion (Rejecting Null)

A statement asserting that there IS a statistically significant difference between groups or a relationship between variables.

Conclusion (Failing to Reject Null)

A statement asserting that there is NOT a statistically significant difference between groups or a relationship between variables.

Statistical Significance

A criterion used to determine if an observed difference or relationship is statistically meaningful, typically based on comparing the p-value to the level of significance.

Hypothesis Support

Data can support a hypothesis but hypotheses are not proven definitively.