Statistical test
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[hide]Definition
A statistical test, T, is characterised by two (a pair) of probabilities:
- T=(u,v), where:
- u is the probability of the test yielding a true-positive result
- v is the probability of the test yielding a true-negative result
If we write [T=1] for the test coming back positive, [T=0] for negative and let P denote the actual correct outcome (which may be unknowable), denoting [P=1] if the thing being tested for is, in truth, present and [P=0] if absent, then:
Outcomes: | Truly present [P=1] |
Truly absent [P=0] |
---|---|---|
Test positive [T=1] |
P[T=1 | P=1]=u | P[T=1 | P=0]=1−v |
Test negative [T=0] |
P[T=0 | P=1]=1−u |
P[T=0 | P=0]=v |
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Definition
A statistical test, T, is characterised by two (a pair) of probabilities:
- T=(u,v), where:
- u is the probability of the test yielding a true-positive result
- v is the probability of the test yielding a true-negative result
Tests are usually asymmetric, see: below and asymmetry of statistical tests for more info.
Notation and Terminology
For a test subject, s, we say the outcome of the test is:
- Positive: [T(s)=1], [T(s)=P], or possibly either of these without the [ ]
- Negative: [T(s)=0], [T(s)=N], or possibly either of these without the [ ]
Power and Significance
The power of the test is
Explanation
Let R denote the result of the test, here this will be 1 or 0, and let P be whether or not the subject actually has the property being tested for. As claimed above the test is characterised by two probabilities