ENGD07H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Statistical Inference, Null Hypothesis, Descriptive Statistics
Document Summary
The focus of inferential statistics is on procedures that use descriptive statistics based on a sample to make inferences or estimates about characteristics of a population. Degree of uncertainty: there is some degree of uncertainty in the questions addresses in quantitative educational research. The degree of confidence depends on the amount of error in sampling and measurement. Inferential statistics are used to infer to the entire population. The null hypothesis is a statement that no difference exists between the populations that are being compared on the basis of a selected dependant variable. If the decision is to reject the null hypothesis when it is, in fact, true (no difference in the populations) type 1 error. It is also possible to fail to reject the null hypothesis when it is, in fact, not true and should have been rejected. Confidence intervals provide a range of value in which the population or real trait value lies, within the parameters of specific probabilities.
