Hypothesis Testing: Concepts

Activities: In-class, large group

• Polling a Population of 100 Hershey Kisses.  A bowl filled with 100 Hershey Kisses represents a population.  The color of the candy wrapper represents the opinion of the Kiss selected.  The class samples the population in an attempt to draw conclusions about Clinton's approval rating. Submitted by Laura J. Simon.
• Hypothesis Testing and Court Trials.  A visual demonstration of Type I and Type II errors.    Submitted by William L. Harkness.

Activities: In-class, small group

• Probability and statistical inference.  An activity which involves drawing mints from a bag to illustrate how probability is used to make inferences about a population.  Submitted by Laura J. Simon.

Dynamic visual displays

• Two-sample comparisons and p-values.  This Toolbook module introduces sampling distribution and p-values in the context of a two-sample permutation test.    Submitted by Bob Heckard. Requires Neuron plug-in.
• Power.  This Toolbook module demonstrates how power is affected by sample size, significance level, and the difference between the "actual" mean and the null mean.   Submitted by Bob Heckard. Requires Neuron plug-in.

Class lecture notes

• Mr. Orangejuice goes on trial.  An evaluation of the difference in the Type I error rates in civil trials and criminal trials.  Submitted by Mosuk Chow.
• Probability and Statistical Inference.  An activity which involves drawing cards from a bag to illustrate how probability is used to make inferences about a population.  Submitted by Laura J. Simon.
• Type I and Type II errors.  How to minimize the chance of Type I and Type II Errors.  Submitted by Laura J. Simon.
• Hypothesis testing: Part I.  An introduction to the general ideas of hypothesis testing. Submitted by Laura J. Simon.
• Hypothesis testing: Part II.  A continuation of the introduction to hypothesis testing including types of errors and making a decision based on the p-value.  Submitted by Laura J. Simon.
• Examples of hypothesis tests.  A summary of examples of all sorts of hypothesis tests.  Submitted by Laura J. Simon.

Videos

• Against All Odds: Inside Statistics Video 20:  Significance Tests.  A hiring discrimination case and a study of Shakespearean authorship illustrate the basic reasoning behind tests of significance. The strengths and weaknesses of significance tests are assessed.  Defined are null and alternative hypotheses and p-values. (28:44 mins.)  Video available in Main Office and from Penn State AVS.