NOTES on UNIT 3 Hypothesis

Hypothesis
A hypothesis is an assumption about the relations between variables. It is a tentative explanation
of the research problem or a guess about the research outcome. Proposing a statement pertaining
to relationship between A and B is called a hypothesis. Hypothesis is an assumption whose
validity can be tested. It is a statement, which can be tested with the help of statistical facts.
There must be some cause and effect relationship.

Types of hypothesis:

Null Hypothesis: it asserts that there is no real difference in the sample and the population in
particular matter under consideration. (Null means invalid, void, amounting to nothing.) And if
any difference is found it is accidental and unimportant arising out of fluctuation of sampling. It
constitutes a challenge and the function of the experiment is to give the facts a chance to refute
this challenge. Eg: Training doesn’t affect the students. There is no significant difference
between sample mean and population mean. The rejection of null hypothesis indicates that the
difference has statistical significance.
Ho:µ = 100 (where 100 is the hypothized value)
In a comparison between 2 sample means, the null hypothesis about difference between groups is
stated as: Ho: µ 1= µ 2

Alternative hypothesis: it is opposite of null hypothesis. It specifies those values that researcher
believes to hold true. It is usually one which researcher wishes to prove. Eg: Training affects the
students. There is significant difference between population mean and sample mean.
Ha: µ ≠ 100 or Ha:µ > /< 100 (where 100 is the hypothized value)
In a comparison between 2 sample means, the alternative hypothesis about difference between
groups is stated as: Ha: µ 1≠ µ 2 or Ha: µ 1>/< µ 2

Level of significance: (denoted by α ) it is the probability of rejecting the null hypothesis if it is

true. The probability by which we commit type I error. The opposite of level of significance is
the confidence level. Eg: 5% level of significance implies 95% confidence level.

Decision Rule:
Given a null hypothesis Ho and an alternative hypothesis Ha we make a rule which is known as
decision rule on the basis of which we accept or reject the hypothesis. For eg: Let the null
hypothesis be that a certain lot of bulbs is good (there are very few defective items in the lot)
The decision rule in this case can be: if 1 or 0 bulbs are defective accept the null hypothesis i.e.,
a certain lot of bulbs is good.
Type I error (denoted by α )– If the hypothesis is true but our test rejects it, we commit type I
error.
Type II error (denoted by β ) If the hypothesis is false but our test accepts it, we commit type II
error.
ACCEPT Ho REJECT Ho
Ho is true Correct decision TYPE I ERROR
Ho is false TYPE II ERROR Correct decision

Two-tailed test: It rejects the null hypothesis if the sample mean is significantly higher or lower
than the hypothised value of the mean of the population. There are two regions of rejection i.e.,
both left and right side.
Ho: µ =100 and Ha: µ ≠ 100 which means (Ha: µ >/<100)

One tailed test: a one tailed test would be used when we are to test , whether population mean is
either lower or higher than some hypothised value. There is only one rejection region in one
tailed test (either right or left side)
Eg: Ho: µ =100 and Ha: µ ≠ 100; µ <100 (this is one sided, in the left tail because Ha is less
than type)
Eg: Ho: µ =100 and Ha: µ ≠ 100; µ >100 (this is one sided, in the right tail because Ha is
more than type)

Characteristics of hypothesis:
- Conceptual clarity - Specificity
- Testability - Availability of techniques
- Theoretical relevance - Consistency
- Objectivity - Simplicity

Criteria for constructing a hypothesis:

- It is never formulated in a question form
- It should be precise and specific
- It should be empirically tested
- It should not be contradictory to approved statements of scientific disciplines
- It should specify variables to be studied
- It should describe only one issue

Procedure to test the hypothesis:

Step 1: State Ho as well as Ha
Step 2: Specify the level of significance (or the value of α )
Step 3: Decide the correct sampling distribution.
Step 4: Select a random sample(s) and workout an appropriate value of sample data
Step 5: Calculate the probability that sample results would diverge as widely as it has
from expectations, if Ho is true
Step 6: Is the probability equal to or smaller than the table value
Step 7: Accept the null hypothesis if this probability/ calculated value is smaller than or
equal to table value.
Testing of hypothesis:
It determines the validity of the assumption (technically described as null hypothesis). It is to test
some hypothesis about parent population from which sample is drawn. When conclusions are
drawn on the basis of sample about the population parameters it is known as testing of
hypothesis.
Statisticians have developed several tests of hypothesis for the purpose of testing of hypothesis
which are as follows:

1) Parametric tests: this test assumes certain properties like normality of population from
which the samples are drawn. It makes use of various measures like mean, median,
standard deviation in the calculation. Some parametric tests are z test, t test F test,
ANOVA etc
2) Non-parametric tests: these tests are not rigid and do not have assumptions like normal
distribution of the population from where the samples are drawn. They make use of
frequencies in the calculations. Some of the no parametric tests are Chi test, rank
correlation etc