Test Concerning Paired Observations

Many researchers have employed paired sampling in studying mean differences in

population means. Example, companies promoting weight loss reduction programs and cosmetic
surgeries have oftentimes advertised using before – and after – treatment statistics. The paired
sample test used a t test statistic, the formula is
𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 − 𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑑 𝑝𝑜𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛
𝑡= 𝑠𝑑
√𝑛
follows a t-distribution with degrees of freedom = n – 1.
Example 4: An ornithologist working at a south coast reed swamp wishes to know if the habitat
is used by migrating reed warblers for “fattening up” before taking of on migration. Birds arrive
in numbers during August and stay at least until the end of September. A sample of reed warblers
were weighed in August and the same set of birds were weighed in September. Following are the
weights of the reed warblers (in grams) in the sample:
Reed Warbler
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
August 10.3 11.4 10.9 12.0 10.0 11.9 12.2 12.3 11.7 12.0
September 12.2 12.1 13.1 11.9 12.0 12.9 11.4 12.1 13.5 12.3
Is there evidence here to suggest that the mean weight of the reed warblers tends to be heavier in
September than in August? Use a 0.05 level of significance. Assume the variable is normally
randomly distributed.
Solution: Let 𝜇1 be the mean weight of the reed warblers in September and let 𝜇2 be the mean
weight of the reed warblers in August. Following the steps in hypothesis testing, it follows:
1. State the null and alternative hypothesis. Mathematically,
Ho: 𝜇1 = 𝜇2
𝐻𝑎 : 𝜇1 > 𝜇2
2. Level of significance α = 0.05.
3. Select an appropriate test statistic.
The test statistic is the t– test for paired observations, and the formula is
𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 − 𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑑 𝑝𝑜𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛
𝑡= 𝑠𝑑
√𝑛
with n – 1 = 10 – 1 = 9 degrees of freedom.
4. Determine the critical value and critical region
Since the level of significance is 0.05 and df =9 degrees of freedom, and the alternative
hypothesis is right – tailed test, then the critical value (𝑡α/2 ) = 1.833. Reject Ho, if t
computed is greater than 1.833.
5. Compute the value of the test statistics:
Let 𝑑i denote the computed difference in the ith birds weight in August from its weight in
September,
𝑑i 1.9 0.7 2.2 -0.1 2.0 1.0 -0.8 -0.2 1.8 0.3
and the mean difference is 0.88 with a sample standard deviation 1.0654. Substituting the
values to the formula, it yields:
0.88 − 0
𝑡= = 2.612.
1.0654
√10
 6. Decision: Since the computed t = 2.612 is greater than 1.833, thus, we reject Ho at 0.05
level of significance.
7. Conclusion:
Therefore, there is a sufficient evidence at 0.05 level of significance to conclude that
the mean weight of the reed warbler birds tends to be heavier in September than in August.

Test Concerning Proportions

When the variable of interest is qualitative and data are summarized in terms of
frequencies, percentages or proportions, tests concerning proportions may be performed. As in
tests concerning means, there are two cases in tests concerning proportions namely:
One -sample case
The formula is
𝑝−𝑃
𝑧=
𝑝𝑞
√
𝑛
Where;
P – the population proportion
p – sample proportion
n – the sample size
Two-sample case
The formula is

(𝑝1 − 𝑝2 ) − (𝑃1 − 𝑃2 )
𝑧=
1 1
√𝑝𝑞 (
𝑛1 + 𝑛2 )
Where;
𝑝1 – proportion of the first sample
𝑝2 – proportion of the second sample
𝑃1 – proportion of the first population
𝑃2 – proportion of the second population
𝑛1 – size of the first sample
𝑛2 – size of the second sample
Example 5: A random sample of 120 females, where 108 passed Statistics on their first exam, and
another random sample of 80 males, where 60 passed Statistics on their first exam. Perform a test
of hypothesis that the proportions who passed Statistics on their first take differ for males and
females. Used the 0.05 level of significance.
Solution: Let 𝑝1 and 𝑝2 be the proportions of females and males, respectively who passed Statistics
on their firs exam.
Steps:
1. State the null and alternative hypothesis. Mathematically,
Ho: 𝑝1 = 𝑝2
𝐻𝑎 : 𝑝1 ≠ 𝑝2
2. Level of significance α = 0.05.
3. Select an appropriate test statistic.
The test statistic is the z test for proportions, and the formula is

(𝑝1 − 𝑝2 ) − (𝑃1 − 𝑃2 )
𝑧=
1 1
√𝑝𝑞 (
𝑛1 + 𝑛2 )
4. Determine the critical value and critical region
Since the level of significance is 0.05 and the critical value (𝑍α/2 ) = ±1.96.
Reject Ho, if t computed is less than -1.96 or greater than 1.96.
5. Compute the value of the test statistics: Let x – be the number of sample in the first group
possessing the characteristics of interest; y – be the number of sample in the second group
𝑥+𝑦 108+60 168
First, we compute the pooled estimate p = 𝑛 = 120+80 = 200 , the z test value is
1 +𝑛2
108 60
(120 − 80) − 0
𝑧= = 2.83.
√ 168 168 1 1
200 (1 − 200) (120 + 80)
6. Decision: Since the computed Z = 2.83 is in the rejection region, thus, reject Ho at 0.05
level of significance.
7. Conclusion:
Therefore, there is sufficient evidence to conclude that the proportions who passed
Statistics on their first exam differ for males and females.