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The P-value for a test about a mean with n = 25 is P = 0.05. (a) Find the t-test statistic value that corresponds to this P-value for different alternative hypotheses. (b) What can you conclude from this P-value?

User Jotrocken
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Final answer:

The t-test statistic value corresponding to a P-value of 0.05 with a sample size of 25 varies based on whether the test is one-tailed or two-tailed, but will be around ±1.711 for one-tailed and around ±2.064 for two-tailed. A P-value of 0.05 indicates a 5% chance of observing data as extreme as the sample mean if the null hypothesis is true, which is typically considered a threshold for statistical significance.

Step-by-step explanation:

Finding the t-test Statistic Value

For a sample size of n = 25, the degrees of freedom used in a t-test would be df = n - 1 = 24. To find the t-test statistic that corresponds to a P-value of 0.05, you look at a t-distribution table or use statistical software for a specific alternative hypothesis.

One-tailed test (either left-tailed or right-tailed) would likely yield a t-statistic around ±1.711.

Two-tailed test would likely have two critical values around ±2.064.

The exact values depend on the tails of the test and the t-distribution table. In both cases, these t-statistic values are threshold values that correspond to the likelihood of observing data as extreme as the sample data, under the assumption that the null hypothesis is true.



Conclusions from the P-Value

The P-value of 0.05 suggests that there is a 5% chance of observing a sample mean as extreme as the one obtained, or more so, if the null hypothesis is true. If our test-related level of significance (also known as alpha or α) is 0.05, this P-value would be on the threshold of statistical significance, leading to a borderline decision to reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis.

User FlatLander
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