Hypothesis Testing

for Differences
Between Population
Means
Lab DOE

Hypothesis Testing
The process of deciding
statistically whether the
findings of an investigation
reflect chance or real effects at
a given level of probability.

Types of Hypothesis Tests

Tests about a population mean ()
Test about a population variance ()
Test about a population proportion
Test for a difference between
Population means
Population proportions
Population variances

Tests for differences between

population means
Tests for large samples
Tests for normal populations with known
variances
Test for normal populations with unknown
variances
Populations have equal variances
Populations have unequal variances

Tests for paired data

Test for differences between

Normal Population Means ()
It is more likely that in practice we can
assume populations are normally
distributed but do not know the population
variances.
In this case and for sample size < 30, we
use t statistic in the testing process.

Main Assumptions
Samples are taken randomly from
each population
The samples from population are
independent of one another
Each population is normally
distributed
The population variances are equal

Elements of Testing hypothesis

Null Hypothesis
Alternative hypothesis
Identify level of significance
Test statistic
Identify rejection criteria for Null
hypothesis
Conclusion
7

Tests for differences between

population means
A. Hypothesis statements
Ha: 1 2 (twosided) or
H0: 1 =
2

vs.

Ha: 1< 2 (left-sided)

or
Ha: 1> 2 (right-

Hypothesis
Testing
Specifying hypotheses:
H0: null or no effect hypothesis
(Statement of no change or difference.
This statement is tested directly, and we
either reject H0 or we do not or fail
to reject H0)
H1: research or alternative hypothesis
(The statement that must be true if H0
is rejected)

Tests for differences between

population means
B. Test statistic

and degrees of freedom = n1 + n2 - 2

is the pooled estimate of

Tests for differences between

population means
C. Rejection region

Tests for differences between

population means
D.
Conclusion
If H0 is rejected, there is a significant statistical
difference between the two population means at a
significance level of