Statistical Tests

A statistical test provides a mechanism for making quantitative decisions about a process or processes. The intent is to determine whether there is enough evidence to reject a conjecture or hypothesis about the process. The conjecture is called the null hypothesis. Not rejecting may be a good result if we want to continue to act as if we believe the null hypothesis is true. Or it may be a disappointing result, possibly indicating we may not yet have enough data to prove something by rejecting the null hypothesis.