AP Statistics Flashcards: Carrying Out a Test for a Population Mean
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 11 cards to help you master important concepts.
If a significance test for a mean yields a low p-value, how do you justify a claim about the population?
Based on a low p-value, you can justify the claim by stating there is convincing statistical evidence to support the alternative hypothesis about the population mean.
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If a significance test for a mean yields a low p-value, how do you justify a claim about the population?
Based on a low p-value, you can justify the claim by stating there is convincing statistical evidence to support the alternative hypothesis about the population mean.
What is the primary role of a significance test for a mean in the context of a research question?
The results of a significance test for a mean provide the statistical reasoning needed to support a conclusion for a research question.
How are the degrees of freedom determined for a t-distribution in a test for a population mean?
The degrees of freedom for the t-distribution are calculated as n-1, where 'n' represents the sample size.
What fundamental assumption is made when interpreting a p-value for a test for a population mean?
Interpreting the p-value for a test for a population mean assumes that the null hypothesis is true.
In a test for a population mean, your p-value is 0.02 and α = 0.05. What is the correct decision regarding the null hypothesis?
Since the p-value (0.02) is less than the significance level alpha (0.05), the correct decision is to reject the null hypothesis.
What is the appropriate test statistic to calculate for a test of a single population mean or for matched pairs data?
The appropriate test statistic to calculate for a population mean, including for matched pairs, is the t-statistic.
For what type of experimental design, other than a single sample, is a t-test for a population mean appropriate?
A t-test for a population mean is also appropriate for analyzing the mean of the differences in matched pairs data.
If you fail to reject the null hypothesis in a test for a population mean, what can you conclude?
If you fail to reject the null hypothesis, you conclude that there is not convincing statistical evidence to support the claim made in the alternative hypothesis.
How is a formal decision made in a significance test for a population mean?
A formal decision is made by comparing the p-value to the significance level (alpha); if the p-value is less than or equal to alpha, we reject the null hypothesis.
How is the p-value interpreted in a significance test for a population mean?
The p-value is the probability of getting a test statistic as extreme or more extreme than the observed result, assuming the null hypothesis is true.
What is the sampling distribution of the t-statistic for a population mean?
The sampling distribution of the t-statistic for a mean is a t-distribution with n-1 degrees of freedom.