Which of the following is not a criterion for making a decision in a hypothesis test?

• A. The critical value determined by the $\mathrm{significance}\mathrm{level}$
• B. The value of the $\mathrm{test}\mathrm{statistic}$ calculated from the sample data
• C. The $\mathrm{sample}\mathrm{size}$ used in the experiment
• D. The $\mathrm{significance}\mathrm{level}$ chosen before the test

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that in hypothesis testing, decisions are made based on comparing the test statistic to a critical value, which is determined by the significance level.
2. Recall that the significance level (often denoted by \(\alpha\)) is chosen before conducting the test and sets the threshold for rejecting the null hypothesis.
3. Recognize that the test statistic is calculated from the sample data and is used to determine whether to reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis.
4. Note that the sample size affects the test statistic and the power of the test but is not directly a criterion used to make the decision in the hypothesis test itself.
5. Conclude that the criteria for making a decision include the critical value, the test statistic, and the significance level, but not the sample size.