Inferential Statistics

Inferential statistics deals with methods used to make

generalizations/ inferences about some characteristics
of the population based on information contained in a
sample.

Types of Inferences

 Estimating the value of the parameter of interest

 Hypothesis testing – making decisions on whether or
not the sample agrees with the researcher’s assertion
regarding some characteristic of the population
Elements of Hypothesis Testing

 Hypotheses
 Test Statistic
 Region of Rejection
 Level of Significance
 Hypotheses
Null hypothesis (Ho)
The statement being tested; it represents what the
experimenter doubts to be true. It is always express the
idea of non-significant difference

Alternative hypothesis (Ha)

The operational statement of the theory that the
experimenter believes to be true and wishes to prove.
It is the negation of the null hypothesis
 Example:
Ho:
The mean weight of a newly born baby is equal to 6 lbs.

Ha: Ho: x = µ
The mean weight of a newly born baby is not equal to 6 lbs.
Ha: x ≠ µ
Ho:
The performance of the recent graduate of St. Bridget in the
National Elementary Aptitude Test do not differ from the past.

Ho: x1 = x2
Ha:
The performance of the recent graduates of St. Bridget in the
National Elementary Aptitude Test is better than that of the past
Ha: x1 > x2
 Types of Tests
One-sided (directional)
If the alternative hypothesis is expressed in terms like “greater
than” or “less than”, it is called a one tailed test. The rejection
region lies only in one tail of the distribution.
rejection
acceptance region
acceptance
region region

Two-sided (non-directional)
If an alternative hypothesis is expressed in a non-equality
statement, it is a non-directional or two-tailed test.
rejection rejection
acceptance
region
 Test Statistic
The test statistic is a statistic computed from the sample
data that is especially sensitive to the differences between
Ho and Ha

Z - Test
Is used when the population standard deviation (δ) is
known and the sample is sufficiently large (n>30)

T - Test
Is used when the population standard deviation is not
known. It can be used even if n is greater than 30.
 Region of Rejection

The region of rejection is the set

of all values of the test statistic
which will lead to the rejection of Ho
 Level of Significance ()

The level of significance is the size of the risk

(0<  <1)

The research is willing to commit erroneously

rejecting Ho

The significance level ranges from 0.01 to 0.10,

depending on the risk the researcher is willing to
take for making a type of error.
 Type of Error

Type I
Rejecting the null hypothesis when in fact it is true.

Type II
Accepting the null hypothesis when in fact it is false.
 Steps in Hypothesis Testing
 Formulate the null hypothesis (Ho) and the
alternative hypothesis (Ha)

 Set the level of significance, .

 Identify the type of statistical test as either

one-tailed or two-tailed

 Compute for the statistical test as either z-test

or t-test
 Steps in Hypothesis Testing
 Determine the tabular value and decide
whether to accept or reject the null
hypothesis, that is
 Accept Ho if the computed value is less
than the tabular value

 Reject Ho if the computed value is greater

than the tabular value
 Conclusion
Explain the implication of the decision
 Formula for the Statistical Test
 Hypothesis Testing for Population Means
 Testing the difference between large sample
mean and population mean
(x – µ)√n
Z =
δ
Where
Z - z – test
X - sample mean
µ - population mean
n - samples
δ - population standard deviation
 Formula for the Statistical Test
 Comparing Two Large Sample Means

x1 – x2
Z =
δ
√ 1+ 1
n1 n2

Where
x1 - mean of the 1st sample group
x2 - mean of the 2nd sample group
δ - population standard deviation
n1, n2 - samples in the 1st and 2nd group
 Formula for the Statistical Test
 Comparing Two Population Proportions

P1 – P 2
Z =
δ
√ P1Q1 + P2Q2
n1 n2

Where
P1 - Proportion of the 1st sample
P2 - Proportion of the 2nd sample
Q1 - 1 – P1
Q2 - 1 – P2
n,n - samples in the 1st and 2nd group
 Hypothesis Testing for Sample
Means
 Small sample hypothesis test for the mean of a
normal population
(x – µ)√n - 1
t =
sd

 Testing the difference between two sample means

x1 – x2
t =

√
sd12 sd22
+
n1 n2
 Example
A sports biologist claimed that female distance
runners tend to be taller on the average than
women in general, who have an average height of
64 inches. To test this claim, a random sample of
40 female distance runners and their heights were
recorded, giving x = 65.6 inches and standard
deviation of 3.3 inches. Test the claim at the 5%
level of significance. (consider the value 3.3 as an
estimate for δ)
 Solution:
Given:
µ = 64 n = 40 X = 65.6
δ = 3.3  = 0.05
Step 1:
Ho: µ = 64 (female distance runners have an average height
of 64 inches)

Ha: µ > 64 (female distance runners tend to be taller on

the average than women in general)
Step 2:
α = 0.05
 Solution:
Step 3:
one – tailed test

Step 4:
Z - test (x – µ)√n
Z =
δ
(65.6 – 64)√40
=
3.3
(1.6) (6.32)
=
3.3
10.112
=
3.3
Z = 3.06
 Solution:
Tabular value = 1.645

rejection
acceptance region
region
1.645 3.06

Reject Ho, accept Ha

Step 6: Conclusion
It does appear that female distance runners tend to be
taller on the average than women in general
 Example
A group of HELE teachers want to compare
food values of the elementary and high school
students. They constructed a questionnaire
composed of 15 items. They administered the
questionnaire to 75 elementary students and
obtained a mean of 3.98 while the 40 high school
students had a mean of 4.12. If the population
standard deviation is 0.27, what conclusion can
the HELE teachers draw about the food value of
the students? (use α = 0.01 level of significance)
 Solution:
Given:
n1 = 75 x1 = 3.98 n2 = 40
x2 = 4.12 δ = 0.27  = 0.01
Step 1:
Ho: there is no significant difference between the food
values of the elementary students and of the
high school students.
Ho: x1 = x2
Ha: there is a significant difference between the food
values of the elementary students and of the
high school students
Ha: x1 ≠ x2
 Solution:
Step 2:
 = 0.01
Step 3:
two – tailed test
Step 4:
Z - test 3.98 – 4.12
Z =

√
1 1
0.27 +
x1 – x2 75 40
Z =
δ
√ 1+ 1
n1 n2
=
-0.14
0.0529

Z = -2.65
 Solution:
Step 5: Decision
Tabular value = + 2.58

rejection rejection
acceptance
region
-2.65 -2.58 +2.58

Reject Ho, accept Ha

Step 6: Conclusion
The HELE teacher can therefore conclude that at 0.01
level of significance, there is a significant difference
between the food values of the elementary and high
school students
Example

The Sibika Department wanted to conduct a test to

see if the majority of the elementary students are in
favor of the result of the recent presidential election. A
random sample of 100 students was obtained and 56 said
they favored the result. Is there sufficient evidence to
safety conclude that a majority of the students favor the
result of the election? Use the 5% level of significance.
Solution:
Given: Let p = the proportion of the sample
favored recent result in the presidential
election

P1 = 56 = .56 q1 = 1 - .56 = .44

100

P2 = 40 = .40 q2 = 1 - .40 = .60

100
Step 1:
Ho: Both elementary and high school students
favored the presidential election result.
Ho: P1 = P2

Ha: Elementary and high school students differ in the

perception regarding the presidential election result.
Ha: P1 ≠ P2

Step 2: α = .05

Step 3: two-tailed
Step 4: Z - test
Z= P1 – P2 = 0.16
P1q1 + P2q2 .0049
n1 n2

= .56 - . 40 = 0.16
0.07
(.56)(.44) (.40)(.60)
100 + 100

Z = 2.29
= 0.16
.0025 + .0024
Step 5: Decision
tabular value = + 1.96

rejection rejection
acceptance
-1.96 1.96 2.29

Reject Ho, accept Ha

Step 6: Conclusion
There is a significance difference between the
perception of elementary and high school students as
regards to presidential election result.
 Example:

In order to pass the emission test an automobile

may not show a hydrocarbon level of more than 220
parts per million (ppm). Officials of a large car
manufacturing company felt that their cars would
average less than 220 ppm. To investigate this, 16
cars were tested, giving a mean of 180 ppm with
standard deviation of 30 ppm. At the 10% level of
significance, do the officials appear to be correct?
 Solution:
Given: μ = 220
n = 17
x = 180
sd = 30
α = .10

Step 1:
Ho: μ = 220 (the mean amount of
hydrocarbons of their cars is equal to 220 ppm)
Ha: μ < 220 (the mean amount of
hydrocarbons of their cars would be less than
220 ppm)
Step 2: α = .10

Step 3: one-tailed

Step 4: t-test
t = (x – μ) √ n - 1
sd

= (180 – 220) √ 17 - 1
30

t = -2.67 = 2.67
Step 5: Decision
degrees of freedom (d.f) = n – 1
= 17 – 1 = 16
tabular value = 1.337

rejection
acceptance
1.337 2.67
Reject Ho, Accept Ha
Step 6: Conclusion
Rejecting Ho implies that the officials belief (μ < 220)
appears to be correct.
 Example:

An administrator at a large university stated that there was a

difference in the mean grade point averages of graduating males
and females. Independent random samples of graduating males
and females gave the ffg information:
n x sd
males 45 85.4 2.64
female 50 87.9 1.70
Use 95% confidence level to support the administrator’s
belief.
Solution:
Step 1:
Ho : xm = xf (there is no significant difference
between the mean grade-point averages of
graduating males and females)
Ha : xm ≠ xf (there is a significant between the
mean grade-point averages of graduating males
and females)
Step 2: α = .05

Step 3: two-tailed test

Step 4: t-test

t = x1 - x 2 = - 2.5
√ .155 + .0578
Sd12 sd22
n2 n+2
= -2.5
= 85.4 - 87.9 √ .213

(2.64)2 (1.70)2
45 + 50
t = -5.42
 Step 5: Decision
df = n1 + n2 - 2
= 45 + 50 - 2
= 95 - 2
df = 93
tabular value = 1.98

rejection rejection
acceptance
-1.98 +1.98
Reject Ho, accept Ha

Step 6: Conclusion
There is a sufficient evidence to support the administrator’s
belief that there is a significant difference in the mean grade point
average of graduating male and female at 95 % confidence level.
Situation #1:

A certain chemical pollutant in the River A has been

constant for several years with mean μ= 34 ppm (parts per
million) and standard deviation σ= 8 ppm. A group of
factory representatives whose companies discharge
liquids into the river is now claiming that they have lowered
the average with improved filtration devices. A group of
environmentalists will test to see if this is true at the 5%
level of significance. Assume that their sample of size 50
gives a mean of 32.5 ppm. Perform a hypothesis test and
state your decision.
Situation #2

The life span of 100 W light bulbs manufactured by a

particular company follows a normal distribution with a
standard deviation of 120 hours and its half-life is guaranteed
under warranty for a minimum of 800 hours. At random, a
sample of 50 bulbs from a lot is selected and it is revealed
that the half-life is 750 hours. With a significance level of
0.01, should the lot be rejected by not honoring the
warranty?