Which of the following is not one of the six steps in the hypothesis testing procedure?

• A. Draw a conclusion based on the evidence
• B. Determine the population $\mathrm{mean}$
• C. State the null and alternative hypotheses
• D. Calculate the test statistic

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the hypothesis testing procedure typically involves six key steps: 1) State the null and alternative hypotheses, 2) Choose the significance level (\$\alpha\$), 3) Calculate the test statistic, 4) Determine the critical value or p-value, 5) Make a decision to reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis, and 6) Draw a conclusion based on the evidence.
2. Recognize that 'Determine the population mean' is not a standard step in the hypothesis testing procedure because the population mean is usually a parameter being tested or assumed, not something you determine as a step in the process.
3. Compare each option given with the standard steps to identify which one does not belong to the hypothesis testing framework.
4. Note that 'State the null and alternative hypotheses', 'Calculate the test statistic', and 'Draw a conclusion based on the evidence' are all integral parts of the hypothesis testing procedure.
5. Conclude that the correct answer is the option that does not fit into the six-step procedure, which is 'Determine the population mean'.