An analyst conducts a two-tailed test to determine if mean earnings estimates are significantly different from reported earnings. The sample size is greater than 25 and the computed test statistic is 1.25. Using a 5% significance level, which of the following statements is most accurate?
A) |
The analyst should reject the null hypothesis and conclude that the earnings estimates are significantly different from reported earnings. | |
B) |
To test the null hypothesis, the analyst must determine the exact sample size and calculate the degrees of freedom for the test. | |
C) |
The analyst should fail to reject the null hypothesis and conclude that the earnings estimates are not significantly different from reported earnings. | |
The null hypothesis is that earnings estimates are equal to reported earnings. To reject the null hypothesis, the calculated test statistic must fall outside the two critical values. IF the analyst tests the null hypothesis with a z-statistic, the crtical values at a 5% confidence level are ±1.96. Because the calculated test statistic, 1.25, lies between the two critical values, the analyst should fail to reject the null hypothesis and conclude that earnings estimates are not significantly different from reported earnings. If the analyst uses a t-statistic, the upper critical value will be even greater than 1.96, never less, so even without the exact degrees of freedom the analyst knows any t-test would fail to reject the null.
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