Z -Test, T-Test FORMULAS
EXCEL
**A test of hypothesis is a procedure used to
substantiate or invalidate a claim which started as a null
hypothesis.**
Hypothesis testing
- A statistical method that is used in making
statistical decisions using experimental data.
- Basically an assumption that we make about
the population parameter.
Methods used to test hypothesis:
1. Traditional method - the most widely used especially
in statistics books and instructional manuals.
2. The p-value method - becomes popular since the
advent of modern computer and high-powered
statistical software’s.
3. The confidence interval method - explained after the
p-value and some illustrative examples were discussed
to show its relationship with hypothesis testing.
**These hypotheses are then subjected to testing. If
they are found to be statistically true, they are
accepted; if they are found to be false, they are
rejected**
**The basis of progress in the physical and social
sciences consist in large part in the rejection of false or
unworkable hypotheses and the acceptance of true
and valid ones.**
Null Hypothesis
- Ho
- is a statement that there is no difference
between the parameter and a specific value, or
that there is no difference between two
parameters.
Alternative Hypothesis
- Ha
- is a statement that there is a difference
between the parameter and a specific value, or
that there is a difference between two
parameters.
Type I error
- (or α – error)
- when we reject the null hypothesis (action)
when in fact the null hypothesis or Ho is true
(actual condition) and therefore the alternative
hypothesis or Ha is false.
Type II error
- (or β – error)
- when we accept the null hypothesis (action)
when in fact the null hypothesis is false (actual
condition) and therefore the alternative
hypothesis or Ha is true.
Significance level of a test
- The probability of making a type I or alpha
error in a test
- is the maximum value of the probability of
rejecting the null hypothesis Ho when in fact it
is true.
Level of significance
- For tests involving statistical decision, it is
customary to use a level of significance of 5% or
1%.
5% significance level
- means that we can accept about 5 chances in
100 that we would reject the null hypothesis
when it should be accepted (i.e., we are willing
to commit an α error or type I error of 5%).
- implies that we are 95% confident that we
have made the right decision.
1% significance level
- often denoted by α = .01, means that we could
be wrong with a probability of 0.01.
- implies that we are 99% confident that we
have made the right decision.
One-tailed test
- shows that the null hypothesis be rejected
when test value is in the critical region on one
side of the mean.
- Right-tailed test if may more than, less than,
taller than etc.
- Left-tailed test
Two - tailed test
- the null hypothesis should be rejected when the
test value is in either of the two critical region.
if may not equal
Steps in the traditional method of hypothesis testing
Step 1. Formulate the null hypothesis (Ho) that there is
no significant different between items being compared.
State the alternative hypothesis (Ha) which is used in
case Ho is rejected.
Step 2. Set the level of significance, α.
Step 3. Determine the test to be used. Use z-test if
population standard deviation is given from the
samples.
Step 4. Determine the tabular value for the test.
- For a z-test, use the table of the critical values
of z based on the area of the normal curve.
- For a t-test, first compute for the degrees of
freedom; then look for the tabular value from
the table of t-distribution.
For a single sample,
df = n – 1
For two samples,
df = n1 + n2 – 2
n = number of items
Step 5. Compute for z or t.
**Usually statisticians test hypothesis at α level
of 0.05 and 0.01 and occasionally at 0.10.**
**Remember that the level depends on the
importance of the Type I error.**
Step 6. Compare the computed value with its
corresponding tabular value, then state your conclusion
based on the following guidelines:
Reject Ho - if the absolute computed value is equal to
or greater than the absolute tabular value.
Accept Ho if the absolute computed value is less than
the absolute tabular value.
T-test
- is a statistical test that is used to compare the
means of two groups. It is often used in
hypothesis testing to determine whether a
process or treatment actually has an effect on
the population of interest, or whether two
groups are different from one another.
When to use a t-test?
- A t-test can only be used when comparing the
means of two groups (a.k.a. pairwise
comparison).
- If you want to compare more than two groups,
or if you want to do multiple pairwise
comparisons, use an ANOVA test or a post-hoc
test.
What type of t-test should I use?
When choosing a t-test, you will need to consider two
things: whether the groups being compared come from
a single population or two different populations, and
whether you want to test the difference in a specific
direction
Paired T-test
- If the groups come from a single population
- Ex.
- Measuring before (pre-test) and after (post-
test) an experimental treatment.
Two sample t-test
- Independent t-test
- If the groups come from two different
populations
- Ex.
- Two different species or people from two
separate cities
One sample t-test
- If there is one group being compared against a
standard value
- Ex.
- Comparing the acidity of a liquid to a neutral pH
of 7
Summary of Steps for Testing of Hypothesis:
1. Identify Ho and Ha
2. Identify if one or two-tailed
3. Determine Tabular Answer (if no level of significance
given, use 0.05)
4. Determine Computed answer (Z-Test of T-Test, just
look at the given)
5. Compare tab and com
6. Decision Rule (Accept or Reject Ho)
7. Conclusion
The difference in the grade point average of the BSA
students between the first semester (mean = 90.3; SD =
5.06) and second semester (mean = 88.9, SD = 4.63) was
not significant (t(18) = 0.65; p=0.26)