Why We Don't "Accept" the Null Hypothesis

View Article - PDF

Title: Why We Don't "Accept" the Null Hypothesis
Authors: Keith M. Bower and James A. Colton
Publication Source: American Society for Quality, Six Sigma Forum, July 2003

Abstract

This article discusses a frequently encountered mistake when using hypothesis tests.

Notes

A key reason for creating this paper was to encourage practitioners to consider the "weight of evidence" that goes into making a statistical conclusion. The frequently used "innocence" vs. "guilt" argument is used as it proves to be a highly effective teaching tool.