Chi-Squared GOF: Uniform
What is a chi-squared goodness of fit test for a given distribution?
- A chi-squared () goodness of fit test is used to test data from a sample which suggests that the population has a given distribution
- This could be that:
- the proportions of the population for different categories follows a given ratio
- the population follows a uniform distribution
- This means all outcomes are equally likely
What are the steps for a chi-squared goodness of fit test for a given distribution?
- STEP 1: Write the hypotheses
- H0 : Variable X can be modelled by the given distribution
- H1 : Variable X cannot be modelled by the given distribution
- Make sure you clearly write what the variable is and don’t just call it X
- STEP 2: Calculate the degree of freedom for the test
- For k outcomes
- Degree of freedom is
- STEP 3: Calculate the expected frequencies
- Split the total frequency using the given ratio
- For a uniform distribution: divide the total frequency N by the number of outcomes k
- STEP 4: Enter the frequencies and the degree of freedom into your GDC
- Enter the observed and expected frequencies as two separate lists
- Your GDC will then give you the χ² statistic and its p-value
- The χ² statistic is denoted as
- STEP 5: Decide whether there is evidence to reject the null hypothesis
- EITHER compare the χ² statistic with the given critical value
- If χ² statistic > critical value then reject H0
- If χ² statistic < critical value then accept H0
- OR compare the p-value with the given significance level
- If p-value < significance level then reject H0
- If p-value > significance level then accept H0
- EITHER compare the χ² statistic with the given critical value
- STEP 6: Write your conclusion
- If you reject H0
- There is sufficient evidence to suggest that variable X does not follow the given distribution
- Therefore this suggests that the data is not distributed as claimed
- If you accept H0
- There is insufficient evidence to suggest that variable X does not follow the given distribution
- Therefore this suggests that the data is distributed as claimed
- If you reject H0
Worked Example
A car salesman is interested in how his sales are distributed and records his sales results over a period of six weeks. The data is shown in the table.
Week |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
Number of sales |
15 |
17 |
11 |
21 |
14 |
12 |
A goodness of fit test is to be performed on the data at the 5% significance level to find out whether the data fits a uniform distribution.
Chi-Squared GOF: Binomial
What is a chi-squared goodness of fit test for a binomial distribution?
- A chi-squared () goodness of fit test is used to test data from a sample suggesting that the population has a binomial distribution
- You will be given the value of p for the binomial distribution
What are the steps for a chi-squared goodness of fit test for a binomial distribution?
- STEP 1: Write the hypotheses
- H0 : Variable X can be modelled by the binomial distribution
- H1 : Variable X cannot be modelled by the binomial distribution
- Make sure you clearly write what the variable is and don’t just call it X
- State the values of n and p clearly
- STEP 2: Calculate the degrees of freedom for the test
- For k outcomes
- Degree of freedom is
- STEP 3: Calculate the expected frequencies
- Find the probability of the outcome using the binomial distribution
- Multiply the probability by the total frequency
- STEP 4: Enter the frequencies and the degree of freedom into your GDC
- Enter the observed and expected frequencies as two separate lists
- Your GDC will then give you the χ² statistic and its p-value
- The χ² statistic is denoted as
- STEP 5: Decide whether there is evidence to reject the null hypothesis
- EITHER compare the χ² statistic with the given critical value
- If χ² statistic > critical value then reject H0
- If χ² statistic < critical value then accept H0
- OR compare the p-value with the given significance level
- If p-value < significance level then reject H0
- If p-value > significance level then accept H0
- EITHER compare the χ² statistic with the given critical value
- STEP 6: Write your conclusion
- If you reject H0
- There is sufficient evidence to suggest that variable X does not follow the binomial distribution
- Therefore this suggests that the data does not follow
- If you accept H0
- There is insufficient evidence to suggest that variable X does not follow the binomial distribution
- Therefore this suggests that the data follows
- If you reject H0
Worked Example
A stage in a video game has three boss battles. 1000 people try this stage of the video game and the number of bosses defeated by each player is recorded.
Number of bosses defeated |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Frequency |
490 |
384 |
111 |
15 |
A goodness of fit test at the 5% significance level is used to decide whether the number of bosses defeated can be modelled by a binomial distribution with a 20% probability of success.
Chi-Squared GOF: Normal
What is a chi-squared goodness of fit test for a normal distribution?
- A chi-squared () goodness of fit test is used to test data from a sample suggesting that the population has a normal distribution
- You will be given the value of μ and σ for the normal distribution
What are the steps for a chi-squared goodness of fit test for a normal distribution?
· STEP 1: Write the hypotheses
-
- H0 : Variable X can be modelled by the normal distribution
- H1 : Variable X cannot be modelled by the normal distribution
- Make sure you clearly write what the variable is and don’t just call it X
- State the values of μ and σ clearly
- STEP 2: Calculate the degrees of freedom for the test
- For k outcomes
- Degree of freedom is
- STEP 3: Calculate the expected frequencies
- Find the probability of the outcome using the normal distribution
- Beware of unbounded inequalities or
- Multiply the probability by the total frequency
- Find the probability of the outcome using the normal distribution
- STEP 4: Enter the frequencies and the degree of freedom into your GDC
- Enter the observed and expected frequencies as two separate lists
- Your GDC will then give you the χ² statistic and its p-value
- The χ² statistic is denoted as
- STEP 5: Decide whether there is evidence to reject the null hypothesis
- EITHER compare the χ² statistic with the given critical value
- If χ² statistic > critical value then reject H0
- If χ² statistic < critical value then accept H0
- OR compare the p-value with the given significance level
- If p-value < significance level then reject H0
- If p-value > significance level then accept H0
- EITHER compare the χ² statistic with the given critical value
- STEP 6: Write your conclusion
- If you reject H0
- There is sufficient evidence to suggest that variable X does not follow the normal distribution
- Therefore this suggests that the data does not follow
- If you accept H0
- There is insufficient evidence to suggest that variable X does not follow the normal distribution
- Therefore this suggests that the data follows
- If you reject H0
Worked Example
300 marbled ducks in Quacktown are weighed and the results are shown in the table below.
Mass (g) |
Frequency |
10 |
|
158 |
|
123 |
|
9 |
A goodness of fit test at the 10% significance level is used to decide whether the mass of a marbled duck can be modelled by a normal distribution with mean 520 g and standard deviation 30 g.