Chapter 8 (Inference) Flashcards
What are confidence intervals?
They facilite the estimation of population parameters, address questions like “what is mean body temperature?”
What are hypothesis tests?
They enable us to compare a population parameter to a specified value. Address questions such as “is the mean body temperature 98.6?”
What is a (1-alpha)100% confidence interval? (CI)
For an unknown parameter it Contains a set of plausible values of the parameter that are consistent with the data.
What is a confidence interval composed of?
A point estimate +- the margin or error
What is the a point estimate?
The value of the statistic. Asked in the chosen sample.
What is the margin of error?
It’s based on the standard error and a desired level of confidence.
Critical value * standard error
What is a critical value?
t_{alpha/2}
What is the area to the right of a t_{alpha/2}?
Alpha/2
How to find a confidence interval for the mean
X_bar ± (t_{alpha/2, n-1}) * s/sqrt(n)
What is the difference between the standard deviation and the standard error?
The standard deviation is how much a data set varies
s.d. = sqrt(sigma^2)
The standard error is how much our statistic distribution set varies
s.e. = sigma/sqrt(n)
What is the standard error of p_hat?
s.e.(p_hat) = sqrt((p_hat(1-p_hat)/n)
What is the confidence level?
(1-alpha)100%
Most common values for alpha?
.05, or .01.
Thus CIs are often 95% or 99%
If not given, assume alpha = .05
Why do we accept some probability that the interval doesn’t cover our parameter?
To infer something meaningful about the population.
The interval is _____
The parameter is ______
random,
fixed!!
Which table do we use to infer the proportion?
The normal table!
Which table do we use to infer the mean?
The t-table!
A confidence interval makes a(n) ________,
A hypothesis test makes a(n) _______.
Estimate,
Comparison
Hypothesis testing allows us to do what?
Asses the plausibility of a specific statement of hypothesis.
The null and alternative hypothesis are…?
Complementary statements about the parameter of interests