test statistic: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Academic
Quick answer
What does “test statistic” mean?
A numerical value calculated from sample data used in statistical hypothesis testing to determine whether to reject the null hypothesis.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A numerical value calculated from sample data used in statistical hypothesis testing to determine whether to reject the null hypothesis.
A function of sample data that summarizes evidence against the null hypothesis, often compared to a critical value or used to compute a p-value in inferential statistics.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences; identical in meaning and usage across both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in academic and research contexts in both UK and US English.
Grammar
How to Use “test statistic” in a Sentence
The test statistic follows [distribution]We computed the test statistic to be [value]When the test statistic exceeds [threshold]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare except in data analysis or market research reports.
Academic
Common in statistics, psychology, economics, and scientific research papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Core term in statistics, data science, and quantitative research methodologies.
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “test statistic”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “test statistic”
- Using 'test statistics' (plural) when referring to a single calculated value.
- Confusing 'test statistic' with 'test score' or 'descriptive statistic'.
- Omitting 'the' (e.g., 'We calculated test statistic' instead of 'the test statistic').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The test statistic is a calculated number (like t or z), while the p-value is the probability of obtaining a test statistic at least as extreme as the one observed, assuming the null hypothesis is true.
Yes. Common examples include the t-statistic (for t-tests), z-score (for z-tests), F-statistic (for ANOVA), and chi-square statistic (for chi-square tests).
Primarily, yes. It is a core concept in frequentist hypothesis testing. Bayesian statistics typically uses different frameworks like Bayes factors instead.
The choice depends on your research question, data type (e.g., continuous, categorical), sample size, and assumptions about the data distribution (e.g., normality).
A numerical value calculated from sample data used in statistical hypothesis testing to determine whether to reject the null hypothesis.
Test statistic is usually technical/academic in register.
Test statistic: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtest stəˌtɪs.tɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtest stəˌtɪs.tɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: TEST what you STATe – the statistic that tests your stated hypothesis.
Conceptual Metaphor
EVIDENCE AS A MEASURING STICK (the test statistic measures the strength of evidence against the null hypothesis).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of a test statistic?