CHI-SQUARE

DEFINITION
� The Chi-Square Test is used to determine the strength of
association between two nominal variables. The Chi-
Square Test is of two types: the Chi-Square Test in One
Sample Case and the other is the Chi-Square Test in Two
Sample Cases. This type of test is only applicable for a
non-parametric testing for relationships of variables with
nominal data.
GENERAL EQUATION:

X2 = the Chi-Square Value

fo= the actually observed frequencies
fe= the expected frequencies
THE CHI-SQUARE TEST IN A ONE
SAMPLE CASE
� The Chi-Square in a one Sample Case is used to
determine whether a significant correlation or a
significant difference exists between the observed
frequency with that of the expected frequency
distribution.
EXAMPLE 1
� A survey conducted by the University Student Council
on –Would you like to have a torch parade during the eve
of the University Celebration?

Problem: Is there a significant difference in the

observed with that of the expected
frequencies?
SOLUTION:
HO: STUDENTS DO NOT DIFFER IN THEIR RESPONSES.
Favor Undecided Not in Favor Total
fo 28 8 15 51
fe 17 17 17 51
fo-fe 11 -9 -2
(fo-fe)2 121 81 4
7.12 4.76 0.24

12.12

Calculated X2 Value Tabular Value

0.05 0.01
12.12 5.99 9.21

p< 0.01 Significant at 0.01 alpha d.f.= k-1 ; 3-1=2

INTERPRETATION:
� Since the calculated Chi-Square value of 12.12 is greater
than the tabular value of 9.21 at 0.01 level of probability,
the null hypothesis that students that do not differ in their
responses was rejected, and the alternative hypothesis
that students differ in their responses was accepted. This
means that students were agreeable to the holding of
torch parade during the eve of the University Day
Celebration.
THE CHI-SQUARE TEST IN TWO SAMPLE
CASES
� The Chi-Square Test for two sample cases will be used
only in determining the degrees of association or
determining the significant differences between two
variables with two or more categories. The data to be
used in this kind of statistical tool should be nominal for
both of the variables.
EXAMPLE 2:
� A researcher wants to know if there is an association
between teachers’ annual salary rate and their
educational attainment.
Teachers’ Annual Educational Attainment
Salary Rate
Bachelor’s Master’s Doctoral Total
High (Php 120,000 Above) 5 40 45 90
Average (Php 72,000 to 10 20 45 75
Php 119,999)
Low (Below Php 72,000) 20 8 8 36
Total 35 68 98 201

Problem: Is there any significant association between the teachers’

annual salary with their educational attainment?
SOLUTION:
HO: THERE IS NO SIGNIFICANT ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THE
TEACHERS’ ANNUAL SALARY RATE AND THEIR
EDUCATIONAL
ATTAINMENT.

Steps:
1. Designate the corresponding cells by the use of a letter symbol such as for
bachelor’s degree with high salary rate is designated as cell a, those with master’s
degree and with high salary rate is designated as cell b and so on.
2. Compute the expected cell frequency by using the equation below:
Cells fo fe (fo-fe) (fo-fe)2

A 5 16 -11 121 7.56

B 40 30 10 100 3.33
C 45 44 1 1 0.02
D 10 13 -3 9 0.69
E 20 25 -5 25 1.00
F 45 37 8 64 1.73
G 20 6 14 196 32.67
H 8 12 -4 16 1.33
I 8 18 -10 100 5.56
=53.89

Calculated X2 Value Tabular Value

0.05 0.01
53.89 9.49 13.28

p< 0.01 Significant at 0.01 alpha d.f.= 6-2=4

INTERPRETATION:
The calculated Chi-Square value of 53.89 is greater than
the tabular Chi-Square value of 13.28 at 1% level of
probability. The null hypothesis of there is no significant
association between the teachers’ annual salary rate and
their educational attainment was therefore rejected, and
the alternative hypothesis is accepted. This means that
there is a significant association between the teachers’
annual salary rate and their educational attainment.
DIFFERENTIATING THE USE OF CHI-SQUARE IN
DETERMINING SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES AND
SIGNIFICANT ASSOCIATION BETWEEN VARIABLES
Example 3: The responses of mothers and their sons to
preferences in children’s clothing yielded the following
results:

Son Mother
Favor Dislike Sometimes Total
Favor 40 6 35 81
Dislike 7 8 9 24
Sometimes 7 10 7 24
Total 54 24 51 129
 � Determining the Chi-Square value:
Son Mother
Favor Dislike Sometimes Total
Favor 40 6 35 81
Dislike 7 8 9 24
Sometimes 7 10 7 24
Total 54 24 51 129

Cells fo fe fo-fe (fo-fe)2

A 40 34 6 36 1.06
B 6 15 -9 81 5.40
C 35 32 3 9 0.28
D 6 10 -4 16 1.60
E 8 4 4 16 4.00
F 9 9 0 0 0.00
G 7 10 -3 9 0.90
H 10 5 5 25 5.00
I 7 10 -3 9 0.90
19.14
 Calculated X2 Value Tabular Value
0.05 0.01
19.14 9.49 13.28

p< 0.01 Significant at 0.01 alpha d.f.= 6-2=4

If the purpose is to determine the significant difference in the responses of mothers and their
sons about clothing preferences, the null hypothesis of there is no significant difference between
mother and their sons as to clothing preferences was therefore rejected. This means that the
responses of parents differ significantly with their sons as to clothing preferences. This simply
shows that the clothing preferred by the mother for her son does not conform to the clothing
preferences by her son resulting to the fact that the son does not like the clothing preferred by his
mother for him.
But, if the purpose is to determine significant association between mothers and their sons’
responses about clothing preferences, the tendency is to determine dependency of responses
between mothers and their sons about clothing preferences. Since there is a significant difference in
the responses between mothers and their sons about clothing preferences, this simply shows that in
order for the mother to conform her clothing preferences for her son, she has to ask or consult first
her son that her clothing preferences is also agreeable or acceptable to him. Meaning to say, there is
being called dependency between responses in order to conform or in agreement of having the same
clothing preferences.