Principles of Sampling (II): Testing

Question 1

What are hypotheses?

Answer 1

Provisional predictions based on an initial idea or theory

Question 2

When do we use hypotheses?

Answer 2

When undertaking quantitative research

When analysing/explaining (not describing)

Question 3

Hypotheses are expressed in terms of…

Answer 3

The outcomes to be measured

An indication of the nature of the relationships between outcome measures

Question 4

What are the two types of Hypotheses?

Answer 4

Null

Research

Question 5

What are the types of Research Hypotheses?

Answer 5

One Tailed (A difference)
Two Tailed (Nature of the difference)

Question 6

Why do we use hypotheses?

Answer 6

To assess whether out sample and calculated statistics are reasonable

• not down to chance
• generalisable to whole population

Question 7

What are the 8 steps involved in significance testing?

Answer 7

1) Specify Research Hypotheses
2) Specify Null Hypothses
3) Specify significance level (usually 95%)
4) Collect/Collate data
5) Choose appropriate statistical test
6) Calculate test statistic
7) Derive p-value or critical value
- Now p-value done by computer, used to check critical value tables
8) Make a decision about statistical significance

Question 8

What are the factors that affect the type of test?

Answer 8

Type of Data (Categorical or Ratio/Interval)
Whether you are making parametric assumptions
Type of comparison
Number of samples