Chi-Square Test for Goodness of Fit – Learn It 3

  • Complete a chi-square test for goodness of fit and write its conclusion in context of the problem

Chi-Square ([latex]\chi^2[/latex]) Test Statistic

As with other hypothesis tests, we need to be able to model the variability we expect in samples if the null hypothesis is true. Then, we can determine whether the chi-square test statistic from the data is unusual or typical.

An unusual [latex]\chi^2[/latex] value suggests that there are statistically significant differences between the sample data and the null distribution and provides evidence against the null hypothesis. This is the same logic we have been applying with hypothesis testing.

The following is the formula for the chi-square test statistic:

[latex]\chi^2=\sum\dfrac{(\text{Observed}-\text{Expected})^2}{\text{Expected}}[/latex]

Sample C was the actual sample obtained by researchers in the study mentioned previously, and it satisfies the conditions for a chi-square goodness of fit test.

Sample C

Quarter 1

(Jan. – March)

Quarter 2

(April – June)

Quarter 3

(July – Sept.)

Quarter 4

(Oct. – Dec.)

Observed number of football players 507 534 389 273

Does this sample provide enough evidence to reject the null hypothesis and support the alternative hypothesis? Let’s investigate.

Step 1: Click the Find Probability tab at the top of the data analysis tool.
Step 2: Choose the appropriate degrees of freedom (number of categories – 1) and select the “Upper Tail” probability type.
Step 3: Enter the calculated chi-square statistic ([latex]\chi^2=147[/latex]).


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The chi-square goodness-of-fit test does not give information about the deviation for specific categories. It gives a more general conclusion of “seems to fit the null distribution” or “does not fit the null distribution.”