Question

In a statistical test, we have a choice of a left-tailed test, a right-tailed test, or a two-tailed test. Is it the null hypothesis or the alternate hypothesis that determines which type of test is used? Explain your answer.

A. The null hypothesis because it specifies what the level of significance of the test will be.
B. The null hypothesis because it specifies the region of interest for the parameter in question.
C. The alternative hypothesis because it specifies what the level of significance of the test will be.
D. The alternative hypothesis because it specifies the region of interest for the parameter in question.

Answer 1

Option D is correct

Explanation:

given that in a statistical test, we have a choice of a left-tailed test, a right-tailed test, or a two-tailed test.

In any hypothesis testing, we have null hypothesis as

H0: A test statistic = some value

against alternate

Ha: Ha can be either test statistic >, or test statistic < or test statistic not equal to.

If alternate is > we say right tailed, and if < we say right tailed and if not equal to we say two tailed.

Hence it is only the alternate hypothesis that determines the number of tails and whether left or right

Option D is right.