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key term - Reject

Citation:

Definition

In statistics, to 'reject' refers to the process of dismissing a null hypothesis based on evidence from sample data. When calculating confidence intervals for the difference of two proportions, rejection occurs if the confidence interval does not include the value specified by the null hypothesis, often zero. This indicates that there is a statistically significant difference between the two population proportions being compared.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. Rejecting the null hypothesis suggests that there is enough statistical evidence to support a claim of difference between two population proportions.
  2. If a confidence interval for the difference of two proportions includes zero, you do not reject the null hypothesis, indicating no significant difference.
  3. The level of significance (alpha) chosen affects the decision to reject; common values are 0.05 and 0.01.
  4. In practice, rejecting the null hypothesis leads to further investigation or conclusions regarding the relationship between the variables studied.
  5. Statistical power, which reflects the likelihood of correctly rejecting a false null hypothesis, is crucial in determining sample size for studies.

Review Questions

  • How do you determine whether to reject the null hypothesis when analyzing confidence intervals for two proportions?
    • To determine whether to reject the null hypothesis while analyzing confidence intervals for two proportions, you need to check if the confidence interval includes zero. If the interval does not contain zero, it indicates a statistically significant difference between the two proportions, leading you to reject the null hypothesis. Conversely, if zero is within the interval, you fail to reject it, suggesting no significant difference.
  • Discuss how changing the significance level affects the likelihood of rejecting a null hypothesis in proportion comparison.
    • Changing the significance level impacts how strict you are about rejecting the null hypothesis. A lower significance level (e.g., 0.01) means you require stronger evidence against the null hypothesis to reject it compared to a higher level (e.g., 0.05). This can result in fewer rejections of the null hypothesis as it raises the threshold for what is considered statistically significant, thereby affecting study conclusions.
  • Evaluate how understanding when to reject a null hypothesis can influence decision-making in real-world applications.
    • Understanding when to reject a null hypothesis is crucial because it informs evidence-based decisions across various fields like healthcare, marketing, and policy-making. For instance, in clinical trials, rejecting a null hypothesis may lead to adopting a new treatment that shows significant effectiveness compared to standard care. However, misinterpretation or misuse of this concept could result in erroneous conclusions and potentially harmful outcomes, emphasizing the importance of statistical literacy.