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2.5 Statistical Hypothesis Testing

2.5 Statistical Hypothesis Testing

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Question 17

A software lead evaluates the efficiency of 7 different sorting algorithms (P,Q,R,S,T,U,VP, Q, R, S, T, U, VP,Q,R,S,T,U,V) based on their code elegance and then ranks them from most efficient to least efficient.

The lead's ranking, in decreasing order of efficiency, is: Q,P,R,T,S,V,UQ, P, R, T, S, V, UQ,P,R,T,S,V,U.

An automated benchmarking suite provides objective efficiency scores (out of 100, where 100 is maximum efficiency) for the 7 algorithms, shown in the table below:

AlgorithmPQRSTUV
Benchmark Score85928065624055
a.

Calculate Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (rsr_srs​) between the software lead's ranking and the ranking derived from the benchmark scores. Use a rank of 1 for the most efficient algorithm. Show your working clearly.

[4]
b.

Using a 5% level of significance, test whether there is evidence of a positive correlation between the lead's qualitative ranking and the benchmark scores. State your hypotheses and the critical value.

[3]
c.

Explain why Spearman's rank correlation coefficient is more appropriate than the Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PMCC) in this specific task.

[2]
d.

The lead discovers that Algorithm S's benchmark score was recorded incorrectly. If Algorithm S's score were corrected to 80, explain what effect this would have on the rankings of the benchmark scores.

[2]
Markscheme

2.5 Statistical Hypothesis Testing Questions

  1. A Level
  2. /Maths
  3. /2.5 Statistical Hypothesis Testing

316 exam-style questions on OCR A Level Maths 2.5 Statistical Hypothesis Testing, covering 2.5.1 The language of hypothesis testing, 2.5.2 Hypothesis test for a binomial proportion, 2.5.3 Inference and significance level, 2.5.4 Sample mean as a random variable (A-level only), 2.5.5 Hypothesis test for the mean of a normal distribution (A-level only), 2.5.6 Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient, and 2.5.7 Hypothesis test using Pearson's coefficient (A-level only). Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.

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