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Psy 315 Chapter#4 - 11

Psy 315 Chapter#4 - 11

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11. List the five steps of hypothesis testing, and explain the procedure and logic of

each.

Step 1: Specify the Null Hypothesis and the Alternative Hypothesis

In order to make a hypothesis test, the researcher needs to identify the problem in terms of a

question that identifies the population of interest to the researcher, the parameters of the

variable under investigation, and the hypothesized value of the parameters. The first step in

hypothesis testing is to identify the null hypothesis (H

) and the alternative hypothesis (H

The null hypothesis is a statement of no effect, relationship, or difference between two or

more groups or factors. The alternative hypothesis is the statement that there is an effect or

difference. This is usually the hypothesis the researcher is interested in proving. The

alternative hypothesis can be one-sided or two-sided. Researchers often use two-sided tests

even when their true hypothesis is one-sided because it requires more evidence against the

null hypothesis to accept the alternative hypothesis. If the research concerns whether one

method of presenting pictorial stimuli leads to better recognition than another, the null

hypothesis would most likely be that there is no difference between methods (H

: μ

- μ

= 0).

The alternative hypothesis would be H

: μ

≠ μ

For example:

Is the mean first salary of a newly graduated student equal to $30,000?

The population of interest is all students who have just graduated. The parameter of interest

is the mean and the variable salary is continuous. The hypothesized value of the parameter,

the mean, is $30,000. Since the parameter is a population mean of a continuous variable, this

suggests a one sample test of a mean.

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Step 2: Set the Significance Level (a)

One of the key concepts in hypothesis testing is that of significance level (or, equivalently the

alpha ( ) level) which specifies the probability level for our evidence to be an unreasonable

estimate. That is the estimate should not have taken its particular value unless some non-

chance factor(s) had operated to alter the nature of the sample such that it was no longer

representative of the population of interest. The significance level is generally set at

0.05. This means that there is a 5% chance that you will accept your alternative hypothesis

when your null hypothesis is actually true.

Example:

H0: µ = $30,000

HA: µ NE $30,000 alpha=.05

Test assumptions are 1) the population is normally distributed or sample size is

approximately >=30 and 2) the sample we have used to collect the data was drawn randomly

from the population. If these test assumptions have not been met, then data collection should

be reevaluated or continued under caution.

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11. List the five steps of hypothesis testing, and explain the procedure and logic of each. Step 1: Specify the Null Hypothesis and the?Alternative Hypothesis In order to make a hypothesis test, the researcher needs to identify the problem in terms of a question that identifies the population of interest to the researcher, the parameters of the variable under investigation, and the hypothesized value of the parameters. The first step in hypothesis testing is to identify the null?hypothesis?(H0) and the?alternative hypothesis?(H1). The null hypothesis is a statement of no effect, relationship, or difference between two or more groups or factors. The alternative hypothesis is?the statement that there is an effect or difference.?This is usually the hypothesis the researcher is interested in proving. The alternative hypothesis can be?one-sided or two-sided.?Researchers often use two-sided tests even when their true hypothesis is one-sided because it requires more evidence against the null hypothesis to accept the alternative hypothesis. If the research concerns whether one method of presenting pictorial stimuli leads to better recognition than another, the null hypothesis would most likely be that there is no difference between methods (H0: ?1?- ?2?= 0). The alternative hypothesis would be H1: ?1?? ?2. For example: Is the mean first salary of a newly graduated student equal to $30,000? The population of interest is all students who have just graduated.? The parameter of intere ...
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