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One-Sample Proportion Test

Definition

A one-sample proportion test is a statistical test used to determine if the proportion of successes in a single sample differs significantly from a hypothesized value.

Analogy

Imagine you are at a party and want to know if the proportion of people wearing hats is different from what you expected. You take a random sample of partygoers and count how many are wearing hats. By conducting a one-sample proportion test, you can determine if the proportion of hat-wearers in your sample is significantly different from your initial expectation.

Related terms

Z-Score: A z-score measures how many standard deviations an observation or data point is away from the mean. In the context of a one-sample proportion test, calculating the z-score helps determine how far away the observed proportion is from the hypothesized value.

Hypothesis Testing: Hypothesis testing involves making an educated guess (hypothesis) about a population parameter and using sample data to assess whether there is enough evidence to support or reject that hypothesis. One-sample proportion tests are an example of hypothesis testing.

Confidence Interval: A confidence interval provides an estimated range of values that likely contains the true population parameter. In one-sample proportion tests, constructing a confidence interval helps determine plausible values for the population proportion based on sample data.