Researchers set alpha at a relatively small level to avoid which of the following errors?
A) Rejecting the null hypothesis when it is false
B) Retaining the null hypothesis when it is false
C) Rejecting the null hypothesis when it is true
D) Retaining the null hypothesis when it is true

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Setting alpha at a small level (e.g. 0.05 or 0.01) helps to avoid the error of rejecting the null hypothesis when it is actually true. This type of error is known as a type I error, and controlling alpha helps to minimize the probability of making this error. However, setting alpha at a small level also increases the probability of making a type II error (retaining the null hypothesis when it is actually false).

Researchers Set Alpha at a Relatively Small Level to Avoid