Chi-Square Test

Chi-Square Test of Independence
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Chi-Square Test for Independence

This lesson explains how to conduct a chi-square test for independence.
The test is applied when you have two
categorical variables
from a single population. It is used to determine whether
there is a significant association between
the two variables.
For example, in an election survey, voters might be classified
by gender (male or female) and voting preference
(Democrat, Republican, or Independent). We could use a chi-square test for
independence to determine whether gender
is related to voting preference. The sample problem at the end of the lesson
considers this example.
When to Use Chi-Square Test for Independence

The test procedure described in this lesson is appropriate when the following conditions are met:
The sampling method is simple random sampling.
The variables under study are each categorical.
If sample data are displayed in a contingency table,
the expected frequency count for each cell of the table is
at
least 5.
This approach consists of four steps: (1) state the hypotheses, (2) formulate an analysis plan, (3) analyze sample data,
and (4) interpret results.
http://stattrek.com/chi-square-test/independence.aspx?Tutorial=AP[24-Apr-16 10:59:41 PM]
State the Hypotheses

Suppose that Variable A has r levels, and Variable B has c levels.
The null hypothesis states that knowing the level of
Variable A does not help you predict the level of Variable B. That is, the variables are independent.
H0: Variable A and Variable B are independent.
Ha: Variable A and Variable B are not

independent.
The alternative hypothesis is that knowing the level of Variable A can help you predict the level of Variable B.
Note: Support for the alternative hypothesis suggests that the variables
are related; but the relationship is not necessarily
causal, in
the sense that one variable "causes" the other.
Formulate an Analysis Plan

The analysis plan describes how to use sample data to accept or reject the null hypothesis. The plan should specify the
following elements.
Significance level. Often, researchers choose significance levels
equal to 0.01, 0.05, or 0.10; but any value
between 0 and 1 can be used.
Test method. Use the chi-square test for independence
to determine whether there is a significant relationship
between two categorical variables.
Analyze Sample Data

Using sample data, find the degrees of freedom, expected frequencies, test statistic, and the P-value associated with the
test statistic.
The approach described in this section is illustrated in the sample problem at the end of this lesson.
Degrees of freedom. The degrees of freedom (DF) is equal to:
DF = (r - 1) * (c - 1)
where r is the number of levels for one catagorical variable, and c is the number of levels for the other categorical
variable.
Expected frequencies. The expected frequency counts
are computed separately for each level of one categorical
variable at each level of the other categorical variable. Compute r * c expected frequencies, according to the
following formula.
Er,c = (nr * nc) / n
where Er,c is the expected frequency count for level r of Variable A and
level c of Variable B, nr is the total
number of sample observations at level r of Variable A, nc is the total number of sample observations at level c of
Variable B, and n is the total sample size.
Test statistic. The test statistic is a chi-square random variable
(2) defined by
the following equation.
2 = [ (Or,c - Er,c)2 / Er,c ]
where Or,c is the observed frequency count at level r of Variable A and level c of Variable B, and
Er,c is the
expected frequency count at level r of Variable A and level c of Variable B.
P-value. The P-value is the probability of observing a sample statistic as extreme as the test statistic. Since the
test statistic is a chi-square, use the Chi-Square Distribution Calculator
to assess the probability associated with
the test statistic. Use the degrees of freedom computed above.
Interpret Results
If the sample findings are unlikely, given
the null hypothesis, the researcher rejects the null hypothesis.
Typically, this
involves comparing the P-value to the significance level,
and rejecting the null hypothesis when the P-value is less than
the significance level.
Test Your Understanding

Problem
A public opinion poll surveyed a simple random sample of 1000 voters.
Respondents were classified by gender (male or
female) and by voting preference (Republican, Democrat, or Independent).
Results are shown in the
contingency table
below.
Voting Preferences
Row total
Republican Democrat Independent
Male
200
150
50
400
Female
250
300
50
600
Column total 450
450
100
1000
Is there a gender gap? Do the men's voting preferences differ
significantly from the women's preferences? Use a 0.05
level of significance.
Solution
The solution to this problem takes four steps: (1) state the hypotheses, (2) formulate an analysis plan, (3) analyze sample
data, and (4) interpret results. We work through those steps below:
State the hypotheses. The first step is to state the null hypothesis and an alternative hypothesis.
H0: Gender and voting preferences are independent.
Ha: Gender and voting preferences are not

independent.
Formulate an analysis plan. For this analysis,
the significance level is 0.05. Using sample data, we will conduct
a chi-square test for independence.
Analyze sample data. Applying the chi-square
test for independence to sample data, we compute the degrees of
freedom, the expected frequency counts, and
the chi-square test statistic. Based on the
chi-square statistic and the
degrees of freedom, we determine the
P-value.
DF = (r - 1) * (c - 1) = (2 - 1) * (3 - 1) = 2
Er,c = (nr * nc) / n
E1,1 = (400 * 450) / 1000 = 180000/1000 = 180
E1,2 = (400 * 450) / 1000 = 180000/1000 = 180
E1,3 = (400 * 100) / 1000 = 40000/1000 = 40
E2,1 = (600 * 450) / 1000 = 270000/1000 = 270
E2,2 = (600 * 450) / 1000 = 270000/1000 = 270
E2,3 = (600 * 100) / 1000 = 60000/1000 = 60

2 = [ (Or,c - Er,c)2 / Er,c ]
2 = (200 - 180)2/180 + (150 - 180)2/180 + (50 - 40)2/40
+
(250 - 270)2/270 + (300 - 270)2/270 + (50 - 60)2/60
2 =
400/180 + 900/180 +
100/40 + 400/270 +
900/270 + 100/60
2 = 2.22 + 5.00 + 2.50 + 1.48 + 3.33 + 1.67 = 16.2
where DF is the degrees of freedom, r is the number of levels of gender, c is the number of levels of the voting
preference,
nr is the number of observations from level r
of gender,
nc is the number of observations from level c
of voting preference,
n is the number of observations in the sample,
Er,c is the expected frequency count when
gender is level r and voting preference is level c, and
Or,c is the observed frequency count when gender is level r
voting preference is level c.
The P-value is the probability that a chi-square statistic
having 2 degrees of freedom is more extreme than 16.2.
We use the Chi-Square Distribution Calculator
to find P(2 > 16.2) = 0.0003.
Interpret results. Since the P-value (0.0003) is
less than the significance level (0.05), we cannot accept the
null
hypothesis. Thus, we conclude that there is a relationship between gender and voting preference.
Note: If you use this approach on an exam, you may also want to mention
why this approach is appropriate.
Specifically, the approach is appropriate because the sampling method was simple random sampling, the
variables
under study were categorical, and the expected frequency count was at least 5 in each cell of the contingency table.
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Chi-Square Test of Independence

Stat Trek Teach yourself statistics

Share with Friends

Chi-Square Test for Independence

When to Use Chi-Square Test for Independence

http://stattrek.com/chi-square-test/independence.aspx?Tutorial=AP[24-Apr-16 10:59:41 PM]

Chi-Square Test of Independence

State the Hypotheses

H0: Variable A and Variable B are independent.

Ha: Variable A and Variable B are not

Formulate an Analysis Plan

Analyze Sample Data

Er,c = (nr * nc) / n

http://stattrek.com/chi-square-test/independence.aspx?Tutorial=AP[24-Apr-16 10:59:41 PM]

Chi-Square Test of Independence

the significance level.

Test Your Understanding

Ha: Gender and voting preferences are not

Er,c = (nr * nc) / n

E1,1 = (400 * 450) / 1000 = 180000/1000 = 180

http://stattrek.com/chi-square-test/independence.aspx?Tutorial=AP[24-Apr-16 10:59:41 PM]

Chi-Square Test of Independence

E1,2 = (400 * 450) / 1000 = 180000/1000 = 180

E1,3 = (400 * 100) / 1000 = 40000/1000 = 40

E2,1 = (600 * 450) / 1000 = 270000/1000 = 270

E2,2 = (600 * 450) / 1000 = 270000/1000 = 270

E2,3 = (600 * 100) / 1000 = 60000/1000 = 60

2 = (200 - 180)2/180 + (150 - 180)2/180 + (50 - 40)2/40

< Previous lesson

Charts and graphs

http://stattrek.com/chi-square-test/independence.aspx?Tutorial=AP[24-Apr-16 10:59:41 PM]

Next lesson >

Chi-Square Test of Independence

http://stattrek.com/chi-square-test/independence.aspx?Tutorial=AP[24-Apr-16 10:59:41 PM]

Chi-Square Test of Independence

Chi-Square Test of Independence

Buy Used: $70.00

http://stattrek.com/chi-square-test/independence.aspx?Tutorial=AP[24-Apr-16 10:59:41 PM]

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