Decisions are always data-based in a world that generates humongous amounts of data each day. Whether in the health sector, quality improvement, or the academic sector, hypothesis plays a vital role, without which the probability of arriving at wrong conclusions increases. 

In this blog, we explore hypothesis testing, how it helps us examine assumptions and their applications in various sectors with examples. 

Meaning of Hypothesis Testing in Statistics

Hypothesis testing in statistics is a statistical analysis that helps estimate the relationship between statistical variables. Also known as significance testing, analysts use it to test assumptions about a population parameter. 

The method of analysis an analyst selects is based on the nature of the data and his choice. 

The Formula for Hypothesis Testing 

The formula for hypothesis testing is Z = (Sample mean – Population mean) / (Standard deviation /√n), where n denotes the sample size.

An assumption is first made on the distribution, known as the null hypothesis. An alternate hypothesis is defined as the opposite of a null hypothesis. The analyst has to determine whether the null hypothesis can be proved or has to be rejected. 

How Does Hypothesis Testing Work?

An analyst uses hypothesis testing to test a statistical sample. It provides evidence for the plausibility of the null hypothesis. For significance testing, analysts incorporate the use of a random population sample. 

Hypothesis testing analyses the data sample to arrive at the most meaningful conclusions. There are two types of hypotheses — null and alternative. These two statements are opposite, indicating only one of the two hypotheses must be true. 

Hypothesis testing tests the authenticity of an assumption about a data set through different methodologies. The main motive is to determine whether the null hypothesis has to be rejected. Learn more about this with a Master of Science in Data Science from LJMU. 

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What are the Null Hypothesis and Alternative Hypothesis 

Null Hypothesis

According to the null hypothesis definition, it is a mathematical statement indicating no difference between the characteristics of two possibilities. It also assumes that the result of an experiment depends on chance alone and is denoted as H0.  

Alternative Hypothesis

An alternative hypothesis is a substitute for the null hypothesis. It denotes a statistical significance between two possible outcomes. Unlike the null hypothesis, it establishes a relationship between the variables under study and is denoted as H1. 

Now that you know the alternative and null hypothesis meanings, let us understand this with an alternative and null hypothesis example. In this null and alternative hypothesis example, we determine the probability that a coin is flipped 100 times. There are 50% chances of landing at heads and 50% at tales. 

Here, 

• Null Hypothesis: The coin would land at heads 50% of the time
• Alternative Hypothesis: The alternate hypothesis would be that the coin would not land at heads 50% of the time

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What Are Confidence Intervals?

A confidence interval refers to a range of possible values within which an unknown parameter is likely to fall while considering a certain confidence level or probability. 

For example, if there is a 95% confidence interval, there is a set of parameter values where one cannot reject the null hypothesis at 1-0.95, that is, 5% test size. 

Simple and Composite Hypothesis Testing

Based on the statistical distribution, hypothesis testing can be divided into the following types:

Simple- In a simple hypothesis, an exact value is specified for the population parameter, which makes the analysis easier.

Composite- In the composite hypothesis, a range contains a lower and upper value between which the population parameter lies.

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One-Tailed and Two-Tailed Hypothesis Testing

One-tailed hypothesis testing

It is also known as directional hypothesis testing. One-tailed hypothesis testing is conducted when most of the population is concentrated towards one side, and the rejection region lies in a single direction. One-tailed hypothesis testing is further classified into right-tailed and left-tailed tests. 

1. Right-tailed test: This is also known as the upper tail test and is used for checking whether a population parameter is greater than an appointed value. 
2. Left-tailed test: Left-tailed hypothesis test is also known as the lower-tail test. This test determines if the population parameter is less than a prescribed value. 

Two-tailed hypothesis testing

It is also known as a non-directional testing method. This method distributes the critical region on both sides of the population. 

Type 1 and Type 2 Error

Statistical decisions are also prone to many uncertainties. Therefore, one cannot rule out the possibility of making errors while testing a hypothesis. 

This can be explained with the help of two terms- Type 1 error and Type 2 error. 

• Type 1 error denotes a false positive conclusion 
• Type 2 error denotes a false negative conclusion 

Hypothesis Testing Types

• Chi-Square: This test in hypothesis testing is used to determine whether the variables of a given population are independent.

• T-Test: The T-test is used for a sample size of less than 30. The T-test helps compare the population mean and sample mean. However, here, the population’s standard deviation is unknown, while the standard deviation of the sample is known. 

• Z Test: The Z test is used while analysing a data set with a sample number more than or equal to 30. With the help of the Z test, an analyst can determine if there is any difference between the sample mean, and the population mean when the population’s standard deviation is known.

Choosing the correct methodology for hypothesis testing can be challenging. Analysts may reject or admit the null hypothesis based on the method used. 

Significance Level

As mentioned earlier, there is a constant chance of error while eliminating the null hypothesis. It can be assumed as a probability of Type 1 error which statisticians assume even before data collection. 

The significance level determines the extent to which the result obtained through the null hypothesis can be false. Analysts have to provide more substantial evidence when the significance level is low. 

P-Value

P-value is the shortened form of probability value. It shows the probability of the occurrence of a specific event. It refers to the probability of obtaining a result that may be the same or more extreme than the actual observations. 

If the P-value is small, statisticians must provide more substantial evidence in favour of the alternative hypothesis. 

Hypothesis Testing Real-World Example

Let’s understand hypothesis testing with this simple example. A pharmaceutical company may have developed a new drug to treat a medical condition. In this case, the null and alternative hypotheses would be: 

Null hypothesis: The drug has no significant effect on treating the symptoms of the medical condition. 

Alternative hypothesis: The drug significantly affects treating the symptoms of the medical condition. 

For this hypothesis testing, the pharmaceutical company will have to conduct a randomised controlled trial, where people having the given medical condition will be divided into two groups. One group will receive the drug, and the other will follow the conventional mode of treatment. 

For data collection, the analyst has to quantify the effects of the medicine in different forms, such as pain scores, etc. After analysing the data, the null hypothesis will be rejected if there is a difference between how the two groups respond. 

Therefore, it will be assumed that the medicine is effective in treating the symptoms of the medical condition. 

An Example to Show Hypothesis Testing Calculation 

In this instance, a hypothesis test is conducted to check the average height of women in the US. 

The null hypothesis states that the average height of the women is 5’4” (population mean). A sample of 100 women is gathered, and their average height is found to be 5’5” (sample mean). The SD for the given sample is 2. 

Since the sample size is more than 30, we will conduct the Z test using the formula: (sample mean – population mean) / (SD/ Sqrt n). Therefore, the value for Z thus obtained is 11.11.

Since the value of Z is substantial, we can conclude that there is enough evidence to support that women in the US are taller than 5’4” on average. 

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Hypothesis Testing Steps

Listed below are the steps to be followed for hypothesis testing. 

Step 1: Specify your null and alternative hypotheses

Analysts must first define the null hypothesis and alternative hypothesis. 

Step 2: Gather data

After the null and alternative hypotheses have been defined, the next step is collecting the data for sampling. The data should represent the entire population the analyst is testing.

Step 3: Conduct a statistical test

After data collection, the analyst must choose a suitable method or statistical test for the collected data. 

Step 4: Determine the rejection of your null hypothesis

Based on the results obtained through the test and the significance level, the null hypothesis is either accepted or rejected. 

Step 5: Present your results 

After successful completion of all the steps, the results are compiled and presented in the form of a report. 

Importance of Hypothesis Testing in Research Methodology

In research methodology, while dealing with vast amounts of data, hypothesis testing helps decide the occurrence of an event. It also helps determine statistically whether any medical treatment has any positive effect, the extent to which two groups differ, and so on. 

Simply put, hypothesis testing helps to prove whether data is statistically significant. Combined with AI & ML, it can help make and execute effective data-driven decisions. You can opt for an Executive PG Programme in Data Science from IIIT Bangalore to learn more about these innovative technologies.

Hypothesis Testing Limitations

Some of the limitations associated with hypothesis testing are as follows:

1. It is important to remember that hypothesis testing does not confirm that a decision can be taken based on the result obtained. It is essential to interpret the result correctly. 
2. The hypothesis test result does not explain the reason for the differences. 
3. The outcome of the significance tests depends on probabilities. One cannot vouch for them with total certainty. 

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Conclusion

Hypothesis testing has wide applicability in various fields, from biology, psychology, finance, and medicine to marketing and product development. Having a grasp of this method can help budding data scientists explore career opportunities in other fields.

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