CSSGB · Question #161
Which of the following terms is used to describe the risk of a type I error in a hypothesis test?
The correct answer is C. Level of significance. Level of significance (option C), denoted α, is defined as the probability of rejecting a true null hypothesis - which is exactly what a Type I error is - making it the direct measure of that risk. Power (A) is the probability of correctly rejecting a false null hypothesis…
Question
Which of the following terms is used to describe the risk of a type I error in a hypothesis test?
Options
- APower
- BConfidence level
- CLevel of significance
- DBeta risk
How the community answered
(28 responses)- C96% (27)
- D4% (1)
Explanation
Level of significance (option C), denoted α, is defined as the probability of rejecting a true null hypothesis - which is exactly what a Type I error is - making it the direct measure of that risk. Power (A) is the probability of correctly rejecting a false null hypothesis, which relates to avoiding a Type II error, not committing a Type I. Confidence level (B) equals 1 − α, so while it is mathematically linked to significance, it represents the probability of not making a Type I error, not the risk itself. Beta risk (D) is the probability of a Type II error (failing to reject a false null hypothesis), the opposite kind of mistake.
Memory tip: Think of α as your "alarm sensitivity" - a higher significance level means you trigger the alarm more easily, increasing the chance of a false alarm (Type I error). The level of significance is that false-alarm rate.
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