Types of Errors in

Hypothesis Testing
Types of Errors

▪ Type I Error – Rejecting the null hypothesis when it is true

▪ Type II Error – Not rejecting the null hypothesis when it is false

Types of Errors

Null Hypothesis (Ho)

RESEARCHER
TRUE FALSE
Reject Ho Type I error

Fail to Reject Ho Type II error

Types of Errors

▪ P(type I error/ Ho is true) = α

▪ P(type II error/ Ho is false) = β
▪ P(rejecting a false Ho) = 1- β
 Example

1. Let’s say that the null hypothesis Ho is : John’s used car is safe to drive.
(a) Which statement represents a type I error? (b) Which statement
represents a type II error? (c) Which type of error has greater consequence?

a) John thinks that his car may be safe, in fact, it is not safe.
b) John thinks that his car may be safe, in fact, it is safe.
c) John thinks that his car may NOT be safe, in fact, it is not safe.
d) John thinks that his car may NOT be safe, in fact, it is safe.
Ho: John’s used car is safe to drive.

John thinks that his car may be
safe, in fact, it is not safe.
▪ It says that the Ho is false
▪ Fails to reject false Ho (accepts
false Ho)
▪ Type II error
John thinks that his car may
NOT be safe, in fact, it is safe.
▪ Agrees with the Ho
▪ But rejects the Ho
▪ Type I error
 Exercise

1. During a medical examination, the null hypothesis Ho is: The patient is

presumed cancer free: (a) Which statement represents a type I error? (b)
Which statement represents a type II error? (c) Which type of error has
greater consequence?
a) The doctor believes that the patient still has cancer when, in fact, the patient is cancer free.
b) The doctor believes that the patient still has cancer when, in fact, the patient has cancer.
c) The doctor believes that the patient is cancer free when, in fact, the patient has cancer.
d) The doctor believes that the patient is cancer free when, in fact, the patient is cancer free.
Ho: The patient is presumed cancer
free.

The doctor believes that the patient still has The doctor believes that the patient is cancer
cancer when, in fact, the patient is cancer
free.
free when, in fact, the patient has cancer.

▪ It says that the Ho is true ▪ Disagrees with the Ho (false)

▪ The doctor rejects the Ho ▪ The doctor fails to reject the
Ho (accepts Ho)
▪ Type I error
▪ Type II error
Thank you!