96.3k views
5 votes
The chi-square test statistic is χ2 = 18.68 and the P-value is between 0.0025 and 0.005. What conclusion should the researcher make? Use α = 0.05.

User Palsrealm
by
8.4k points

1 Answer

2 votes

We don't know what the exact p-value is, but we are told that it's as large as 0.005 which is smaller than alpha = 0.05

Since the p-value is smaller than alpha, this means we reject the null hypothesis.

The way you can remember this is "if the p-value is low, then the null must go". By "low", I mean "smaller than alpha".

Recall that the p-value is the probability of observing that specific test statistic, or larger. So the chances of chi-squared being 18.68 or larger is a probability between 0.0025 and 0.005; there's a very small chance of this happening. The p-value is based entirely on the assumption that the null is correct. But if the null is correct, then the chances of landing on this are very small. We have a contradiction that basically leads to us concluding the null must not be the case. It's not 100% guaranteed of course, but it's fairly strong evidence.

In short, the p-value being smaller than alpha = 0.05 means we reject the null.

In order to accept the null, the p-value must be 0.05 or larger.

User Denis Nikanorov
by
8.7k points
Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.

9.4m questions

12.2m answers

Categories