Question

if you work as a physician in a medical office and want to test a new drug to see if it reduces the number of days patients suffer from upper respiratory infection.

what's the alternative hypothesis, make it directional.

what's the null hypothesis

say 12 out of 14 patients note relief using the drug. using the sign test and an alpha level .05 decide if you will reject or retain your alternative hypothesis.

what type of error could be made?

Answer 1

Alternate hypothesis := new drug does not reduced the number if days patient suffer from upper respiratory infection.

Null hypothesis : new drug reduced the number of days patient suffer from upper respiratory infection

p = 12/14 = 0.8571

It means 85% people say that treatment reduces the number of days, but alpha here is 0.05, that is only 5% tolerance is acceptable.so null hypothesis will be rejected.

Type 1 error could be made here. Rejecting null hypothesis when it is true