Question

You intend to draw a random sample in order to test a hypothesis about an unknown population mean. You will use a hypothesis test. A description of each of the steps of a hypothesis test follows, but they may be specified in the incorrect order. Specify the correct order of the steps. Select a level of significance. Draw a random sample, and calculate the sample statistic. Determine the null and alternative hypotheses. Decide whether to reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis.

Answer 1

1. Determine the null and alternative hypotheses.
2. Select a level of significance.
3. Draw a random sample, and calculate the sample statistic.
4. Decide whether to reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis.

Explanation:

The steps that involve testing a hypothesis can be sorted like this:

First, we have to determine the null and alternative hypothesis. This is related directly to the claim we are trying to prove.

Second, we select a level of significance. This depends on how conservative we want to be with the conclusions. We have to do it before evaluating the test statistic, although it is not involved in its calculations.

Third, we draw a random sample, and calculate the sample statistic. This is the core of the hypothesis test, were we use the information of a sample to infer a characteristic of the population.

Fourth and last, with the results of the test statistic, we decide whether to reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis. This leads to the conclusions about the claims.