The statistician's decision after analysing the data is whether there is sufficient evidence to:
ADiscard the sample entirely
BReject the null hypothesis
CProve the null hypothesis
DProve the alternative true
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. Reject the null hypothesis
1. A hypothesis test never proves anything outright.
2. The statistician makes a decision as to whether or not there is sufficient evidence, based upon analyses of the data, to reject the null hypothesis.
3. Sufficient evidence points away from the null and toward the alternative.
4. Insufficient evidence leaves the null standing, which is not the same as proving it.
_Source: OpenStax Introductory Statistics 2e (CC BY 4.0), Ch 9 'Hypothesis Testing with One Sample', sections 9.1-9.6_
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