Week 4 - Reflection
Learning Team “B”
University of Phoenix Online
QNT/351 Quantitative Analysis for Business
April 13, 2014

The last four weeks have been challenging but also fulfilling for our team. We have formed a collaborative learning team that works well together using problem solving techniques and work experiences. Our collaborative reflection for the last four weeks is as follows:
The Steps in Testing a Research Hypothesis
Hypothesis testing begins with a statement and assumption that determines the population of the mean, (Lind, 2011, p.288.). The five steps listed in Lind are as follows:
1. State null and alternate hypothesis
2. Select a level of significance
3. Identify the test statistic
4. Formulate a decision rule
5. Take a sample and arrive at decision
However in McClave, 2011, pages 324 and 325 the steps for testing of a hypothesis are listed as “Elements of a Test of Hypothesis” and instead of five steps they list seven. The seven steps from McClave are listed as follows:
1. Null hypothesis: A theory about the specific values of one or more population parameters. The theory generally represents the status quo, which we adopt until it is proven false. The theory is always stated as Ho: parameter = value.
2. Alternative (research) hypothesis (Ha): A theory that contradicts the null hypothesis. The theory generally represents that which we will adopt when sufficient evidence exists to establish its truth.
3. Test statistic: A sample statistic used to decide whether to reject the null hypothesis.
4. Rejection region: The numerical values of the test statistic for which the null hypothesis will be rejected. The rejection region is chosen so that the probability α is that it will contain the test statistic when the null hypothesis is true, thereby leading to Type I error. The value of α is usually chosen to be small