Test Statistic
Definition
A test statistic is a numerical value calculated from sample data that is used to make inferences about a population parameter. It measures the discrepancy between the observed data and what would be expected under a specific hypothesis.
Analogy
Think of a test statistic as a detective's magnifying glass. Just like how a magnifying glass helps the detective examine clues more closely, a test statistic helps us examine our sample data and determine if it supports or contradicts our hypothesis.
Related terms
P-value: The p-value is the probability of obtaining results as extreme as (or more extreme than) the observed data, assuming that the null hypothesis is true.
Hypothesis Testing: Hypothesis testing is a statistical procedure where we use sample data to make decisions about whether to accept or reject a claim about a population.
Confidence Interval: A confidence interval is an estimate of an unknown population parameter along with an indication of how confident we are in that estimate.
"Test Statistic" appears in:
Study guides (3)
Practice Questions (5)
- Which of the following statements is true regarding the test statistic (χ2) in a goodness of fit test?
- Which test statistic is used to carry out a chi-square test for homogeneity or independence?
- If the data is proportions, what is the appropriate test statistic?
- When performing a significance test for a population mean, what is the test statistic used?
- What is the purpose of calculating the test statistic in a two-sample t-test?
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