RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -In a lower-tailed test the decision rule has investigators reject H0 if the test statistic is smaller than the critical value. In a two-tailed test the decision rule has investigators reject H0 if the test statistic is extreme, either larger than an upper critical value or smaller than a lower critical value.

Detailed explanation-2: -If the t-statistic value is greater than the t-critical, meaning that it is beyond it on the x-axis (a blue x), then the null hypothesis is rejected and the alternate hypothesis is accepted. However, if the t-statistic had been less than the t-critical value (a red x), the null hypothesis would have been retained.

Detailed explanation-3: -If the tabulated value in hypothesis testing is more than the calculated value, than the null hypothesis is accepted. Otherwise it is rejected. The last step of this approach of hypothesis testing is to make a substantive interpretation.