SMC Significance Level and Hypothesis Testing Questions

1. In your own words, describe what “p= .05” means.

2. Fill in the blanks:

A researcher makes the decision to accept the alternative hypothesis based on the _______________ level of the statistical test. In most cases, researchers choose a significance level of _______________. In other words, if the significance level is less than this standard, the researcher should _______________ the finding of the statistical test as real. If the significance level is greater than this standard, the researcher labels the finding as _______________. Even with this standard and these decision rules, two types of error exist in hypothesis testing. One type of error is called _______________, and it occurs when the null hypothesis is rejected even when it is true. Researchers always run this risk because this type of error is associated with and established by the _______________level. If you reject the null hypothesis even though it is true, you are accepting the _______________ hypothesis when it is not _______________. The other type of error occurs when the null hypothesis is retained even though the null hypothesis is _______________. In other words, the researcher _______________ claiming a difference or relationship that is real.