Statistics · Guided Practice
Hypothesis Testing and Errors
7 questions with answers. Try each one before revealing the answer.
1
A scientist wants to know whether a new running shoe changes the mean sprint time of athletes.
State the null and alternative hypotheses.
State the null and alternative hypotheses.
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Answer
: the new shoe makes no difference to the mean sprint time.
: the new shoe changes the mean sprint time.
: the new shoe changes the mean sprint time.
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2
A test produces a p-value of .
State the conclusion at the significance level.
State the conclusion at the significance level.
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Answer
, so there is sufficient evidence to reject the null hypothesis at the level.
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3
A botanist tests whether a new soil increases the mean height of tomato plants. The test gives a p-value of .
A student writes: "Since , we accept the null hypothesis. The soil makes no difference."
Explain what is wrong with this conclusion.
A student writes: "Since , we accept the null hypothesis. The soil makes no difference."
Explain what is wrong with this conclusion.
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Answer
We never accept the null hypothesis — we only fail to reject it.
The correct conclusion is that there is insufficient evidence to reject the null hypothesis at the level. That is not the same as proving the soil makes no difference; the test may simply not have detected an effect.
The correct conclusion is that there is insufficient evidence to reject the null hypothesis at the level. That is not the same as proving the soil makes no difference; the test may simply not have detected an effect.
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4
A company tests whether a new battery lasts the same time as the old one.
Explain, in this context, what is meant by a Type I error.
Explain, in this context, what is meant by a Type I error.
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Answer
Rejecting the null hypothesis when it is actually true.
Here, concluding that the new battery performs differently when in fact it lasts the same time as the old one.
Here, concluding that the new battery performs differently when in fact it lasts the same time as the old one.
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5
A company tests whether a new battery lasts the same time as the old one.
Explain, in this context, what is meant by a Type II error.
Explain, in this context, what is meant by a Type II error.
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Answer
Failing to reject the null hypothesis when it is actually false.
Here, concluding there is no difference when the new battery really does last a different length of time.
Here, concluding there is no difference when the new battery really does last a different length of time.
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6
State what the significance level of a test represents.
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Answer
The probability of rejecting the null hypothesis when it is in fact true — that is, the chance of making a Type I error.
At the level this is .
At the level this is .
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7
A test produces a p-value of .
State the conclusion at the level and at the level.
State the conclusion at the level and at the level.
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Answer
At the level: , so reject the null hypothesis.
At the level: , so there is insufficient evidence to reject the null hypothesis.
At the level: , so there is insufficient evidence to reject the null hypothesis.
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