The Sign Test

• what does N represent?

  number of patients minus the number of 'no changes'
• what does S represent?

  number of times the less frequent sign occurs (+ or -)
• what is a one-tailed hypothesis also called?

  directional hypothesis
• what is a two-tailed hypothesis also called?

  non-directional hypothesis
• if STEM doesn't give a significance, what do we assume it is?

  0.05
• what is inferential statistical testing?

  a way of determining whether the null hypothesis should be accepted or rejected
• what are the steps of the sign test?

  1. calculate N (number of patients minus 'no changes')
  2. calculate S (number of times less frequent sign occurs)
  3. directional or non-directional hypothesis
  4. check significance value
  5. determine C, accept or reject null hypothesis