Parametric Vs Non Parametric Statistics

Parametric Non Parametric

Parametric and nonparametric tests are used for making inferences about various population values
(parameters)
Every parametric test has a nonparametric equivalent
Focuses on mean difference Focuses on difference between median
Better fit for mean accurately representing Better fit for median representing the center of
center of distribution and sample size is large distribution even if the sample size is large
enough
Original data score is used Data need to be changed from scores to ranks
and signs
Makes numerous and stringent assumptions No such assumptions
Powerful Less powerful
Efficient Less efficient
Mean and SD are important They are not important
Sample size >= 30 Sample size < 30
Information about the population is completely No information about population
known
Applicable only for variables Applicable for variables and attributes
Null hypothesis is based on parameters of the Null hypothesis is free from parameters
population distribution
More conservative More liberal
Less likely to make a type 1 error More likely to make type 1 error
Data should be normally distributed Distribution free tests

Hypothesis Testing
Hypothesis is a specific, testable educated prediction or assumption about a population parameter that
may or may not be true.

 Used in experiment
 Defines/predicts relationship between two variables
 Finds the answer to a question
 Formalized hypotheses force to think about what results should be looked for in an experiment
 Similar to popular legal term – innocent until proven guilty
o Null hypothesis  innocent
o Alternate hypothesis  guilty

Testing

 To test the claim or statement

 Kind of statistical inference that involves asking questions, collecting data, examining what data
tells
 Essential procedure (testing map on paper)
Components of hypothesis

 Independent Variable  Dependent Variable  Researched Reason

 If Children get at least 8 hours sleep  then they will perform better on tests  because rest
lets the body heal and fresh

Type I and Type II Errors

Type I error Type II error
Rejecting null hypo which is factually true Accepting null hypothesis when it should be
rejected
It is false positive It is false negative
The probability of committing a type I error is The probability of committing a type II error is
called the level of significance called the power of the test
Probability called alpha Probability called beta
The value of alpha is always set before the study Beta is usually not stated at the beginning of the
is undertaken hypothesis testing
Probability of over reacting Probability of under reacting
Example: Convincing the defendant when he is Example: Giving clean chit to the defendant when
innocent he is guilty.
Descriptive Vs Inferential Statistics
Descriptive Statistics
Summarize essential features of the data
Concerned with describing population under
study
Organize, analyze, and present data in
meaningful way
Form of final results – charts, graphs, and tables
Describes a situation
Deals with central tendency and spread of the
frequency distribution
Measures – mean, mode, median – are numbers
Conclusions can’t be made beyond given data
Deals with small samples which enable us to
produce results without errors
Inferential Statistics
Estimates, Predictions, forecasts, generalizations
Focuses on drawing conclusions about population
based on the sample analysis and observation
Compares, tests, and predicts data
Form of final result – Probability
Explains the chances of occurrence of an event
More details such as hypothesis tests and
confidence interval are studied
Not always exact numbers
Educated guesses and predictions can be made
on the basis of the parameters of the given
population
Inferential stats takes whole population for
drawing conclusions which may not have the
extent of required accuracy
Level of Significance
The level of significance is the probability of rejecting null hypothesis when it is true.

In psychology only two levels of significance are considered 99% (alpha = 0.01) and 95% (alpha = 0.05).
Steps in Setting up Levels Of Significance
1. State the null and alternate hypotheses
2. Set the criteria for a decision
3. Define level of significance or α. This is represented by μ which is the probability used to define
the very unlikely sample outcomes, if the null hypothesis is true.
4. Critical region are determined by α level. If the sample data falls in the critical region, the null
hypothesis is rejected. The cut-off level that is set affects the outcome of the research.
5. Collect and compute sample statistics using the formula given below

6. Make decision and write down the decision rule

Graphical Representation of Data

Graph’s purposes:

 Visual presentation of data

 Showing trends
 Show and compare changes
 Show and compare relationships between different elements
 Explore data and identify areas worth further study
 Show meaning and large volume of data in summary form
 Help user think about underlying data than the graph itself

Graph types

 Histogram
 Frequency polygon
 Frequency curve
 Line graph
 Scatter plot
 Box Whisker plot
 Cumulative frequency (Ogive – less than, more than)

Levels of Measurement
 Nominal
 Ordinal
 Interval
 Ratio
Normal distribution
Normal curve
 Symmetric
 Unimodel
 Max ordinate at center
 Asymptotic to x axis
 Height declines symmetrically
 Bilateral
 Influx occurs at ±1SD
 Total area under curve may be considered 100%

Skewness
Kurtosis

Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient rho

Tied means number is repeated in data....untied means numbers are not repeated
Regression Equation
Chi Square Test
Mann Whitney U Test (Wilcoxon Mann Whiteney U Test)

U + U’ = n1xn2