FUNDAMENTALS OF INFERENTIAL STATISTICS

Inferential statistics drawing conclusions on the population based on the samples

Parametric tests have hypothesized parameter(s)
Examples: z tests, t-tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA)
Nonparametric tests no hypothesized parameter(s) or no assumed distribution
Examples: Mann-Whitney U Test, Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test, Kruskal-Wallis Test

Recall that:
Population the target of interest
Sample subset of population

Sample size: Sample size n is considered large if n 30.

Remember that in Central Limit Theorem,
As the sample size increases, the distribution of the sample means is approximately normal.

Hypothesis assumption
Null hypothesis (Ho)
- assumes no difference with the hypothesized parameter
- the temporary conclusion until proven false
- always carries the equal sign
Alternative hypothesis (Ha)
- expresses difference with the hypothesized parameter
- has to be proven as true
- carries the inequality sign < or > (for one-tailed tests) or (for two-tailed tests)

One & Two-tailed tests

One-tailed tests (also called directional tests or one-directional tests)
- determines if the samples are from distribution with parameter(s) that are less or greater than the
hypothesized parameter.
- keywords: better/worse, less/higher, increase/decrease
Two-tailed tests (also called non-directional tests)
- determines if the samples are from distribution with parameter(s) that differs with the hypothesized
parameter.
- Keywords: differ, change, not equal
*One vs two-tailed tests are determined by carefully analyzing the problem.

Level of significance ()
- a pre-determined probability value that a researcher wants in committing a maximum error upon stating
the conclusion
- sets the rejection area of the distribution, where conclusion will be based
- usually, values are = 0.01, = 0.05, and = 0.10
- = 1 confidence interval

STEPS IN HYPOTHESIS TESTING:

1. Analyze the problem and state the null and alternative hypotheses.
2. Set the level of significance (determine the critical value and set the area of rejection).
3. Determine the most appropriate statistical test to be used and compute for the test statistic (z, t, F, etc)
4. If the test statistic is in the area of rejection or if the p-value < , then Reject Ho.
Otherwise, Fail to Reject Ho.
Rejection of the null hypothesis (Ho) indicates that the
samples are sufficient evidence to claim in favor of the
alternative hypothesis.

Non-rejection of the null hypothesis (Ho) indicates that the

samples are not sufficient evidence to claim that the
alternative hypothesis is true. Thus, there is a reason to
believe that, still, the null hypothesis is true.

However, remember that non-rejection of the Ho does not

imply that the Ho is true. Ho can never be proven as true,
unless data are collected from the entire population, thus
never say Accept Ho.

Given the following research questions involving tests of single mean, determine whether it leads to a one
or two-tailed test. State Ho and Ha.

a) Is the mean IQ of the Thomasians above 120?

One-tailed test Two-tailed test
Ho: ____________________________________________________________________________
Ha: ____________________________________________________________________________
b) Do the colon cancer patients have a mean body temperature of less than 37C, two hours after applying fluorouracil?
One-tailed test Two-tailed test
Ho: ____________________________________________________________________________
Ha: ____________________________________________________________________________
c) Does biliary atresia occur to Filipino children at a mean of 1.5 years old?
One-tailed test Two-tailed test
Ho: ____________________________________________________________________________
Ha: ____________________________________________________________________________
 INFERENCE IN SINGLE MEAN
- determines if samples are from distribution with mean .

is known is unknown
Z-test for single mean t-test for single mean
!!! !!!
= ! =! , where degrees of freedom (df) = n 1
! !

EXAMPLES:
1. Suppose that a researcher has conducted a study to determine if the mean weight of the 12-year old boys in
his town is 80 lbs. He randomly selected 50 12-year old boys and found a mean weight of 77 lbs. If the
population standard deviation is known to be 9 lbs, can he conclude that the mean weight of the 12-year old
boys in his town is not equal to 80 lbs? Test at = 0.05.

Hypotheses:
Ho: _____________________________________________________________________________________
Ha: _____________________________________________________________________________________
Test statistic: _____________ p-value: ___________________

Critical value: _____________

Decision: _____________
Conclusion: _________________________________________________________________________________
2. The forced swim test (FST) is a rodent behavioral test used for evaluation of antidepressant drugs that are
aimed at rendering or preventing depressive-like states. Mice are placed in an inescapable transparent tank
that is filled with water and their escape related mobility behavior is measured. Suppose that the mobility
behavior (in sec), using FST, of all the depressed mice are normally distributed with standard deviation of
14.4 seconds. In a random sample of 10 zinc-deprived mice, mobility behavior is measured after
antidepressant treatment and found a mean of 51.2 seconds. Do this data provide sufficient evidence that
the mean mobility of zinc-deprived mice treated with antidepressant is significantly less than 60 seconds?
Test at = 0.05.

Hypotheses:
Ho: _____________________________________________________________________________________
Ha: _____________________________________________________________________________________
Test statistic: _____________ p-value: ___________________

Critical value: _____________

Decision: _____________
Conclusion: _________________________________________________________________________________
3. [surfacetensionhoney.sav] Surface tension is the elastic tendency of a fluid surface which makes it acquire
the least surface area possible. Surface tension allows insects (e.g. water striders), usually denser than water,
to float and stride on a water surface. In a study of Rehman, Khan, & Maqbool (2008), surface tension of
honey samples were compared with the reference value (66.30 dynes/cm). Suppose twenty random samples
were collected and found a mean of 61.90 dynes/cm and standard deviation of 6.00 dynes/cm. Do the data
provide sufficient evidence that the mean surface tension of honey samples is not 66.3 dynes/cm?
Test at = 0.05.

Hypotheses:
Ho: _____________________________________________________________________________________
Ha: _____________________________________________________________________________________
Test statistic: _____________ p-value: ___________________

Critical value: _____________

Decision: _____________
Conclusion: _________________________________________________________________________________

4. [RBCdengue.sav] A study compares the complete blood count (CBC) of dengue patients with the normal
values. From 35 dengue patients, it was found that their mean RBC (in x1012/L) is 4.65 and standard
deviation of 0.57. Is there a reason to believe that the mean RBC of dengue patients do not differ with the
normal values [Assume that the RBC has normal values of 4.8 to 5.4 1012/L]? Test at = 0.05.

Hypotheses:
Ho: _____________________________________________________________________________________
Ha: _____________________________________________________________________________________
Test statistic: _____________ p-value: ___________________

Critical value: _____________

Decision: _____________
Conclusion: _________________________________________________________________________________