Week 8:

Hypothesis Testing with One-Sample t-test

One Sample t-Test

The shortcoming of the z test is that it requires more information than is usually available. To do a z-test, we need to know the value of population standard deviation to be able to compute standard error. But it is rarely known.

When the population variance is unknown, we use one sample t-test

What if is unknown?
Cant compute z test statistics (z score)
x
Z=
Population standard deviation must be known

Can compute t statistic

t=

x s n
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Sample standard deviation must be known

Z-test or t-test?
Do children with low self-esteem show significantly more depression than children in general? The average depression score for the general population is 90, with a deviation of 14. Do children with low-self esteem take on a leadership role in a group project significantly less than two times a semester? Is the average GPA of freshman admitted to OSU significantly higher or 4 lower than 3.0 in 2007?

Hypothesis testing with a one-sample t-test

State the hypotheses

Ho: = hypothesized value H1: hypothesized value

Set the criteria for rejecting Ho

Alpha level Critical t value

Determining the criteria for rejecting the Ho

The t- value is used just like a z-statistic: if the value of t exceeds some threshold or critical valued, t , then an effect is detected (i.e. the null hypothesis of no difference is rejected)

Table C.3 (p. 638 in text)

Degrees of freedom for One Sample t-test

Degrees freedom (d.f.) is computed as the one less than the sample size (the denominator of the standard deviation): df = n - 1

Finding Critical Values

The t-distribution for df = 3, 2-tailed = 0.10

Finding Critical Values

The t-distribution for df =15, 2-tailed = 0.05

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Finding Critical Values

The t-distribution for df =15, one-tailed = 0.05

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Hypothesis testing with a one-sample t-test

Compute the test statistic (t-statistic)

t=

x s n

Make statistical decision and draw conclusion

t t critical value, reject null hypothesis t < t critical value, fail to reject null hypothesis

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Decision about Ho

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One Sample t-test Example

You are conducting an experiment to see if a given therapy works to reduce test anxiety in a sample of college students. A standard measure of test anxiety is known to produce a = 20. In the sample you draw of 81 the mean = 18 with s = 9. Use an alpha level of .05

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Write hypotheses

Ho: The average test anxiety in the sample of college students will not be statistically significantly different than 20.

Ho: = 20

H1 = The average test anxiety in the sample of college students will be statistically significantly lower than 20.

H1: < 20

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Set Criterion
one-tailed = .05 df = n 1

81 1 = 80 Use closest and most conservative value if exact value not given

t critical value = - 1.671

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Compute test statistic (t statistic)

t = 18 20 = -2 = -2
9 / 81 1

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Compare to criteria and make decision

t-statistic of -2 exceeds your critical value of -1.671. Reject the null hypothesis and conclude that average test anxiety in the sample of college students is statistically significantly lower than 20, t = -2.0, p < .05.

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