Final answer:
When the test statistic is greater than the critical value, you should reject the null hypothesis and accept the alternative hypothesis.
Step-by-step explanation:
When conducting a hypothesis test, if the test statistic is greater than the critical value based on the chosen confidence interval, the correct decision is to reject the null hypothesis and accept the alternative hypothesis.
The p-value, which measures the strength of the evidence against the null hypothesis, is also an important factor in the decision-making process. If the p-value is less than the chosen significance level, typically 0.05, it provides further support for rejecting the null hypothesis.
It's important to note that hypothesis testing is based on probability laws and we can only talk in terms of non-absolute certainties, so we never state that a claim is proven true or false.