Hypothesis testing · Year 13

In Year 13 you learn: hypothesis tests.

A hypothesis test uses data to decide whether there is enough evidence against a claim. You assume the null hypothesis H₀ is true. Then you work out how likely your result (or something more extreme) would be. You reject H₀ only if that probability is below the significance level.

Key facts

• H₀ says the parameter equals the claimed value (for example p = 0.3). H₁ says what you suspect: p > 0.3, p < 0.3 or p ≠ 0.3.
• p-value: the probability of a result at least as extreme as the one observed, if H₀ is true.
• Always finish with a conclusion in context, such as “there is evidence that…”.