HYPOTHESIS

A hypothesis (plural hypotheses) is a statistical statement which has yet to be tested for its
possible truthfulness.

Classification of hypothesis
Hypothesis can be classified in two categories:
• Null Hypothesis
• Alternative Hypothesis
Null Hypothesis
Procedure for Testing Hypothesis
This procedure is described as follows:
1. Set up a hypothesis
2. Set up a suitable Significance Level
3. Setting a Test Criterion
4. Doing Computations
5. Making Decisions
Types of Errors in Testing Hypothesis
When a statistical hypothesis is tested, we can have the following possibilities:
1. Hypothesis is true but our test rejects it. (Type I error)
2. Hypothesis is false but our test accepts it. (Type II error)
3. Hypothesis is true and our test accepts it. (Correct decision)
4. Hypothesis is false and our test rejects it. (Correct decision)
Since the calculated value of is less than the table value at 1% level of significance. Therefore, hypothesis is
accepted. Hence the producers claim is not valid at 1% level of significance.
Example 5. Two types of drugs were used on 05 and 07 patients for reducing their weights. Drug A was
imported and drug B indigenous. The decrease in the weights after using the drugs for six months was
as follows:
Drug A : 10 12 13 11 14
Drug B : 08 09 12 14 15 10 09
Solution. Let us take the null hypothesis that there is no significant difference in the efficacy of the two
drugs. Applying t-test