Types of Errors in

Hypothesis Testing
 Objectives

At the end of this lesson, the learner should be able to

● correctly determine when a type I error occurs; and

● correctly determine when a type II error occurs.

 Essential Questions

● Which type of error in hypothesis testing is worse? Why?

● Why do we need to understand the possible errors in

hypothesis testing?
 Warm Up!

Before we talk about errors in hypothesis testing, let us have

a short activity using an interactive applet.

(Click the link to access the applet.)

“Coin Toss.” Shodor. Retrieved 21 August 2019 from

https://bit.ly/1coqayZ
 Guide Questions

● Is the coin fair?

● What are the null and alternative hypotheses for this

problem?

Using the applet, toss the coin for 20 times, 100 times, and
1 000 times. Then, check the ratio for each number of
tosses.

● Do you reject or not reject the null hypothesis?

 Learn about It!

Type I Error
1 an error in hypothesis testing that occurs when a true null
hypothesis is rejected

Example:

Let’s say a medical researcher has the following hypotheses

about the population mean number of patients in an
emergency room daily.
 Learn about It!

The mean number of patients in the emergency room daily is

74.

The mean number of patients in the emergency room daily is

not 74.

Suppose the null hypothesis is true. That is, the population

mean number of patients in the emergency room daily is
really 74. A type I error will occur if the medical researcher
concludes that the mean number of patients is not 74,
thus rejecting the true null hypothesis.
 Learn about It!

2 Type II Error
an error in hypothesis testing that occurs when a false null
hypothesis is not rejected

Example:

Let’s say a medical researcher has the following hypotheses

about the population mean number of patients in an
emergency room daily.
 Learn about It!
The mean number of patients in the emergency room daily is
74.

The mean number of patients in the emergency room daily is

not 74.

Suppose the null hypothesis is not true; that is, the mean
number of patients in the emergency room daily is not 74. A
type II error will occur if the medical researcher concludes
that the mean number of patients is 74, thus not rejecting the
false null hypothesis.
 Try It!

Example 1:
Consider the following hypotheses.

When will a type I error and a type II error occur?

 Try It!

Solution:

A type I error occurs if we reject when it is true. Hence, a

type I error occurs when the population mean is 200 but the
researcher concludes that it is not 200.

A type II error occurs if we do not reject when it is false.

Hence, a type II error occurs when the population mean is
not 200 but the researcher concludes that it is 200.
 Try It!

Example 2:
Consider the following hypotheses.

: The population mean number of hours students spend

studying after school is at most 2.5 hours.

: The population mean number of hours students spend

studying after school is greater than 2.5 hours.

When will a type I error and a type II error occur?

 Try It!

Solution:
A type I error occurs if we reject when it is true. Hence, a type I
error occurs when the mean number of hours students spend
studying after school is at most 2.5 hours, but it is concluded that
they spend greater than 2.5 hours.

A type II error occurs if we do not reject when it is false. Hence, a

type II error occurs when the mean number of hours students
spend studying after school is greater than 2.5 hours, but it is
concluded that they spend less than or equal to 2.5 hours.
 Try It!

Example 3: A researcher wants to test whether there is a

difference between the mean frequency of exercise between
teens and adults. When will a type I error and a type II error
occur?
 Try It!

Solution:

A type I error occurs if we reject when it is true. Hence, a

type I error occurs when there is no difference between the
frequency of exercise of teens and adults, but it is concluded
that there is a difference.

A type II error occurs if we do not reject when it is false.

Hence, a type II error occurs when there is a difference
between the frequency of exercise of teens and adults, but it
is concluded that there is no difference.
 Let’s Practice!

Individual Practice:

1. Researcher A claims that an average professional typist

has a mean typing speed of 75 words per minute.
Researcher B wants to test whether this claim is true.

When will a type I and a type II error occur?

 Let’s Practice!

Individual Practice:
2. A gym instructor wants to test if the weights of his
students were reduced after an exercise program. The
hypotheses areas follows:

: The mean weight of the students after the exercise program

is at least 145 lbs.
: The mean weight of the students after the exercise program
is less than 145 lbs.

When will a type I and a type II error occur?

 Let’s Practice!

Individual Practice:

3. A department head wants to test the claim that the daily

average water intake of each employee is greater than 1.3
liters. When will a type I error and a type II error occur?
 Let’s Practice!

Group Practice: To be done in groups of three or four

A researcher wants to know if there is a difference between

the mean number of math anxiety cases for females and
males. What are the possible errors that the researcher may
commit in testing his hypothesis?
Key Points

Type I Error
1 an error in hypothesis testing that occurs when a true null hypothesis is rejected

2 Type II Error
an error in hypothesis testing that occurs when a false null hypothesis is not
rejected
 Synthesis

● When does a type I occur? How about a type II error?

● What are the errors that you have done in your life?

● In hypothesis testing, can we be 100% sure that we will not

commit an error?