Hypothesis Testing : Lab

Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Department
2013
Introduction
Variable
Dependen :
Independen :
Group :
Observation :
Hypotheses (one/two-sided)
H
0
:
H
1
:
Hypotheses Testing:
Worksheet Hypothesis Testing
Basic Principals
Type of measurement Characteristics of
variable
Descriptive statistics
Categorical
Nominal Unorderedcategories Counts, proportions
Ordinal
1
Ordered categories with
intervals that are not
quantifiable
Counts, proportions,
and median
Numerical
Continuous Infinite number of
values
Ranked spectrum with
quantifiableintervals
Counts, proportions,
median, mean,
standarddeviation
Discrete
2
Limitedtointegers
Process of Classification and
Measurement
Can increase the objectivity of our knowledge,
reduce bias, and provide a means of
communication.
Clinical investigators prefer variables that
contain more information and thereby provide
greater power and/or smaller sample size.
Continuous >Discrete >Ordinal >Nominal
Overview
Variable and scale of measurement
Probability distribution
Estimation
Hypothesis
Why is hypothesis testing so
important?
It provides an objectives framework for
making decisions using probabilistic methods
rather thanrelyingonsubjectiveimpressions
People can formdifferent opinions bylooking
at data, but a hypothesis test provides a
uniform decision making criterion that is
consistent for all people
7
Why is hypothesis testing so
important?
The research hypothesis is a specific version of
the research question that summarizes the
main elements of the study (sample, predictor
and outcome variables
The basis of the tests of statistical significance.
A good hypothesis must be based on a good
research question. It should also be simple,
specific, and stated in advance.
Case I
Age at menarche (age of starting menstrual
periods) is an important risk factor for breast
cancer and possibly ovarian cancer. In general,
women with earlier age at menarche have a
higher incidence of breast cancer. The long-
term trend in developed countries is that age
at menarche has been declining over the past
50 years. One hypothesis is that women with
higher childhood socioeconomic status (SES)
have an earlier age at menarche.
Questions for case I:
What are the dependent and independent variables
in the study? What is the appropriate scale of
measurements for both variables?
Is it paired or unpaired observation?
What are the null hypothesis and alternative
hypothesis? Is it one-sided or two-sided?
What is the appropriate hypothesis testing
(parametric/non parametric) that we can use to test
the null hypothesis?
Describe data analysis in descriptive statistic
Answer
Dependent : age at menarche (year,
numerical)
Independent childhood socioeconomic status
(lower and higher, nominal)
Unpaired observation, no matching procedure
H
0
:
age at menarche
higher SES =
age at menarche
lower SES
H
1
:
age at menarche
higher SES <
age at menarche
lower SES (one-sided)
Test of distribution
Only one group are normally distributed
non parametric test
Descriptive Statistic
Variable Descriptive
Statistic
Age of menarche
(median/IQR)
12.4 (2)
SES (n/%) lower 30 (60)
higher 20(40)
In a pediatric clinic a study is carried out to
see how effective aspirin is in reducing
temperature. Twelve 5-year-old children
suffering from influenza had their
temperatures (F) taken immediately before
andonehour after administrationof aspirin.
Case II
Questions for case II
What are the dependent and independent
variables in the study? What is the
appropriate scale of measurements for both
variables?
Is it paired or unpaired observation?
What are the null hypothesis and alternative
hypothesis? Is it one-sided or two-sided?
What is the appropriate parametric test that
we can use to test the null hypothesis?
Answer
Dependent : body temperature (F,
numerical)
Independent : pem. aspirin
Paired observation from the same person or
subject, the dependent/outcome variables are
measured twice
H
0
:
temperature
before -
temperature
after =0
H
1
:
temperature
before -
temperature
after >0 (one-
sided)
Test of distribution
Both group are normally distributed
parametric test
Descriptive Statistic
Temperature
(mean/SD)
Descriptive
Statistic
Before 102.2 (0.7989)
After 100.45(0.5649)
Researchers want to compare protein intake
(mg) among three groups of postmenopausal
women:
Women eating a standard American diet (SAD)
Women eating a lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet (LAC)
Women eating a strict vegetarian diet (VEG)
Case III
Questions for case III:
What are the dependent and independent
variables in the study? What is the
appropriate scale of measurements for both
variables?
Is it paired or unpaired observation?
What are null hypothesis and alternative
hypothesis?
What is the appropriate parametric test that
we can use to test the null hypothesis?
Answer
Dependent : protein intake (mg, numerical)
Independent : diet type (SAD, LAC, and VEG,
nominal)
Unpaired observation, no matching procedure
H
0
:
SAD
=
LAC
=
VEG
H
1
: at least one of the pairs has mean
difference of protein intake
Test of distribution
Both group are normally distributed
parametric test
Descriptive Statistic
Protein
(mean/SD)
Descriptive
Statistic
STD 74.7(5.056)
LAC 56.7(5.559)
VEG 46.7(5.559)
Is your Dependent Variable (DV) continuous?
YES
NO
Is your Independent Variable
(IV) continuous?
Is your Independent Variable
(IV) continuous?
Correlation
or Linear
Regression
YES
YES YES
Do you have
only 2
treatments?
NO
NO
Logistic
Regression
Chi Square
NO
T-test ANOVA
If I have one Dependent Variable, which statistical test do I use?