Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026

A Tactile Automated Passive-Finger Stimulator (TAPS)
Published on: June 3, 2009
Alphas, betas and skewy distributions: two ways of getting the wrong answer
1Institute of Applied Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK. p.fayers@abdn.ac.uk
Abstract:
Although many parametric statistical tests are considered to be robust, as recently shown in Methodologist's Corner, it still pays to be circumspect about the assumptions underlying statistical tests. In this paper I show that robustness mainly refers to α, the type-I error. If the underlying distribution of data is ignored there can be a major penalty in terms of the β, the type-II error, representing a large increase in false negative rate or, equivalently, a severe loss of power of the test.
Related Concept Videos
Bias
In statistics, a sampling bias is created when a sample is collected from a population, and some members of the population are not as likely to be chosen as others (remember, each member...
Chi-square Distribution
Errors In Hypothesis Tests
Types of Skewness
For instance, in the middle of a pandemic, the geographical distribution of vaccine coverage may be positively skewed towards populations in the global north countries. However,...
Distributions to Estimate Population Parameter
Types of Hypothesis Testing
When the null and alternative hypotheses are stated, it is observed that the null hypothesis is a neutral statement against which the alternative hypothesis is tested. The alternative hypothesis is a claim that instead has a certain direction. If the null hypothesis claims that p = 0.5, the alternative hypothesis would be an opposing statement to this and can be put either p > 0.5, p < 0.5, or p ≠ 0.5.