Worksheet 21: Testing for correlation

Worksheet 21: Testing for correlation#

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  1. Hypothesis testing conceptual inventory-taking.

    a. Explain what a hypothesis test is, and why we would do it, in plain English, using 25 words or less.

    b. Explain what a null hypothesis is in plain English, using 25 words or less.

    c. Explain what a \(p\)-value is in plain English, using 25 words or less.

  2. Suppose we have computed a correlation coefficient \(R\) from our data. We want to know if \(R\) reflects an actual trend, or if it is just noise.

    Null hypothesis: the pairs \((x_i,y_i)\) are paired up totally randomly.

    a. Why is this null hypothesis saying that there is no real correlation?

    b. In plain English, what is the \(p\)-value of \(R\)?

  3. Why could bootstrap simulation give us a good sense of variability? Will it account for outliers?