4.

Hypothesis testing
4.1. Research question
After discussing, researchers decided to select the statement: “over 50% of all the participants
have not taken a gap year” as our first hypothesis, and “over 50% of FMT students assume that
taking a gap year will be beneficial for a student”. Then, in order to evaluate the possibility of
these statements, researchers using data from two important questions which are included in their
questionnaire: “Have you ever taken a gap year?” and “Do you think taking a gap year will be
beneficial for a student?”.

4.2. Hypothesis test 1

4.2.1. Assumptions
The population proportion method will be used in this hypothesis test as the data type in this
research is qualitative.

Let the parameter of interest is the population proportion p and the estimator of p is the sample
proportion 𝑝̂

Population follows binominal distribution with two categorical outcomes which are “Having
already taken a gap year” and “Having never taking a gap year before”.
As there are two outcomes, researchers considered the “Having never taken a gap year” as a
success and “Having already taking a gap year before” as a failure.

 All trials are independent, also their probability of both outcomes is identical:
p = 0.5 and 1 – p = 0.5

 Two conditions are determined by:

np = 110 x 0.5 = 55 > 5
n(1 – p ) = 110 x (1 – 0.5) = 55 > 5

As both conditions being calculated are qualified, authors come up to the conclusion that the
sampling distribution of 𝑝̂ can be estimated by a normal distribution, and Z-test method will be
used.

4.2.2. Data Analysis

  The sample size: n = 110
 The number of success: x = 90
x 90
 Sample proportion: 𝑝̂= = = 0.81
n 110

4.2.3. Hypothesis testing procedure

The hypothesis test is whether the proportion of FMT’s students who have not taking a gap year
is larger than 50%.

Step 1: The null and alternative hypotheses

H 0: p = 0.5
H a : p > 0.5

Based on the alternative hypothesis H a , right-tailed Z-test will be applied.

Step 2: Test statistic

p̂ − p 0.81−0.5
z=
√ p(1− p) =
n √ 0.5(1−0.5) = 6.50
110

Step 3: Level of significance

Level of significance: α = 0.05

Step 4: Critical value approach

Critical value = Z α ¿ Z 0.05 = 1.645

Step 5: Rejection rule
 Reject the null hypothesis ( H 0 ¿ if Z ≥ Z α

Step 6: Conclusion
As Z = 6.50 > Z 0.05 = 1.645. Therefore, H 0 is rejected

At the level of significance of 0.05, researchers have enough evidence to conclude that
more than 50% of FMT’s students have not taking a gap year before.

4.3. Hypothesis test 2

4.3.1. Assumptions
For the second research question, population also follows binominal distribution with two
categorical outcomes in which: “Taking a gap year will be beneficial for a student” is considered
as a success and “Taking a gap year will not be beneficial for a student” is considered as a failure.

 All trials are independent, also their probability of both outcomes is identical:
p = 0.5 and 1 – p = 0.5

 Two conditions are determined by:

np = 110 x 0.5 = 55 > 5
n(1 – p ) = 110 x (1 – 0.5) = 55 > 5

As both conditions being calculated are qualified, authors come up to the conclusion that the
sampling distribution of 𝑝̂ can be estimated by a normal distribution, and Z-test method will be
used.

4.3.2 Data analysis

 The sample size: n = 110

 The number of success: x = 70
x 70
 Sample proportion: 𝑝̂= = = 0.63
n 110

4.3.3. Hypothesis testing procedure

The hypothesis test is whether the proportion of FMT’s students assume that taking a gap year
will be beneficial for a student is larger than 50%
Step 1: The null and alternative hypotheses
H 0: p = 0.5
H a : p > 0.5

Based on the alternative hypothesis H a , right-tailed Z-test will be applied.

Step 2: Test statistic

p̂ − p 0.63−0.5
z=
√ p(1− p) =
n √ 0.5(1−0.5) = 2.72
110

Step 3: Level of significance

Level of significance: α = 0.05

Step 4: Critical value approach

Reject the null hypothesis ( H 0 ¿ if Z ≥ Z α = 1.645

Step 5: Rejection rule

Reject the null hypothesis ( H 0 ¿ if Z ≥ Z α

Step 6: Conclusion
As Z = 2.72 > Z 0.05 = 1.645. Therefore, H 0 is rejected

At the level of significance of 0.05, researchers have enough evidence to conclude that
more than 50% of FMT’s students think that taking a gap year will be beneficial for a
student.

4.4. Discussion of findings

From the results of the two above hypothesis testing, it is obvious that most FMT
students have not taken a gap year from university before. The possible reason for this
probably is that most of the FMT students have been on the right track when studying at
Hanoi University and they can cope with the pressure of the school. Another reason could
be that not everyone has the courage to take a year off because they fear that gap year
will be a waste of their time. Nevertheless, although the major number of FMT students
have not taken a gap year before, there is still a large proportion of students who assume
that a student will get benefits when taking a year off. This could be explained by they
know that a gap year will bring many opportunities for a student if he/she knows how to
spend that year off effectively. For example, a year off can help a student build career
potential through volunteering, working experience or internship programs, etc. As a
result, that student will not only earn extra income, but also they gain more life
experience and become more mature and independent.