What is Hypothesis Testing?
Hypothesis testing is a statistical method used to make decisions about a population based on a sample from that population. It is used to test hypotheses about a population parameter, such as the mean or the proportion. Hypothesis testing is used to decide whether to accept or reject a hypothesis based on the results of the test.
The hypothesis test starts with the formulation of two opposing hypotheses. The null hypothesis is the hypothesis that is assumed to be true and the alternative hypothesis is the hypothesis that is being tested. The null hypothesis is usually a statement of “no difference” or “no effect” between the population and the sample. The alternative hypothesis is usually a statement of “some difference” or “some effect” between the population and the sample.
Once the hypotheses have been formulated, the data from the sample is collected and analyzed. The results of the analysis are then compared to the hypotheses. If the results of the analysis support the null hypothesis, then the null hypothesis is accepted. If the results of the analysis do not support the null hypothesis, then the alternative hypothesis is accepted.
Hypothesis testing is an important tool in statistics and is used to make decisions about populations based on data. It is used in a wide range of applications, from medical research to marketing research. Knowing how to use hypothesis testing can help you make better decisions in your own research.