Hypotheses, P Values & Standard Deviations

Question 1

What is an alternate (experimental) hypothesis?

Answer 1

Hypothesis which describes the results you expect to see.

Question 2

What is a null hypothesis?

Answer 2

Hypothesis that states that there will be no differences or no correlation in the results produced

Question 3

What is a p value?

Answer 3

The probability that the difference in data is due to chance

Question 4

What does it mean if p<0.05 ?

Answer 4

• there is less than a 5% probability that the differences are due to chance
• so the differences in data were not due to chance
• reject the null hypothesis as the differences are significant

Question 5

What does it mean if p>0.05 ?

Answer 5

• there is more than a 5% probability that the difference in data is due to chance
• so the differences are due to chance
• accept the null hypothesis as the differences are not significant

Question 6

When standard deviations overlap, how would you describe the differences in data?

Answer 6

Not significant

Question 7

When standard deviations don’t overlap, how would you describe the differences in data?

Answer 7

Significant