Hypothesis on Trial

  1. At the beginning of the courtroom criminal trial in the United States, the defendant is presumed to be of the crime.

  2. If we think of the null hypothesis as the person (defendant) on trial, then "failing to reject the null hypothesis" would be analogous to a decision to the defendant on trial. 

    To convict means to decide that there is a sufficient level of evidence that someone accused of a crime is guilty. To acquit means to decide that there is NOT a sufficient level of evidence that someone accused of a crime is guilty.

  3. If we think of the null hypothesis as the person (defendant) on trial, then "rejecting the null hypothesis" would be analogous to a decision to the defendant on trial.

  4. If the jury makes a Type 1 error, that would mean they have decided to the defendant when they should not have.

  5. If the jury makes a Type 2 error, that would mean they have decided to the defendant when they should not have.

  6. If the trial by jury process has high power, that means there is a high probability that the jury will decide to when that would be the correct decision.