Chi-square Test

Dr. T. T. Kachwala

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Using the Chi-Square Test

χ statistic
2 
fo - fe 
2

fe

2 statistics
• measures difference between fo and fe
• is always positive
• if fe is small, it is over estimated (limitation of 2 statistics)

The following are the two Applications:

1. Chi square as a test of Independence
2. Chi square as a test of Goodness of Fit

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Chi-square as a Test of Independence

Objective
If we classify a population into two attributes with
several classes, we can use Chi-square test to determine
whether or not the two attributes are independent of
each other.

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Chi-square as a test of Independence

Contingency Table:

It is a table of classification of two attributes into

a number of classes. One of the attributes is
classified along the rows, while the second
attribute is classified along the columns.

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 Chi-square as a test of Independence

Observed and Expected Frequency

1. Observed frequency is based on actual observation (Study or Survey)
2. Expected frequency is based on theoretical calculations. The expected or
theoretical frequency can be obtained for any cell as follows:

RT  CT
fe 
N

fe = expected frequency of cell

RT = Row total corresponding to that cell
CT = Column total corresponding to that cell
N = Total number of observation

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Degree of Freedom (for Contingency table of size m * n)

Degree of Freedom is the number of independent observations

that can be arbitrarily assigned without violating the restrictions
of the problem. For example: Table of size 2*2;  = 1
Degree of Freedom  for table of size m x n, is given by the
following formula:  = (m-1)  (n-1) {where m is the number
of rows & n is the number of columns}. For example:

Table of size 2*2 : m = 2, n = 2;  = 1*1 = 1

Table of size 3*2 : m = 3, n = 2;  = 2*1 = 2
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The Chi-Square Distribution

1. The sampling distribution of the statistic 2 can be closely approximated

by a continuous curve known as Chi-square distribution.

2. As in case of t distribution, there is different 2 distribution for each

different number of degrees of freedom. However in practical research
work, only a few values of  are popular (0.05, 0.01, 0.1).

3. Chi-square distribution is a skewed distribution & is defined by level of

significance  & degree of freedom  as indicated below (for  = 0.05) :

0.05

2Critical 7
Summarized procedure for Chi-Square Test of Independence

Step (i) H0 : The two attributes are independent

H1 : One attribute depends on the other attribute
Step (ii) Assuming α = 0.05, 2 distribution &  = (m-1) * (n-1)
2Critical = {from table}

Step (iii) Calculate 2 statistic

χ statistic
2 
fo - fe 
2

fe

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 Summarized procedure for Chi Square as a Test of Independence

Step (iv & v) : Decision Rule & Conclusion

2 Critical

If 2 statistic is in acceptance area If 2 statistic is in rejection area

Accept H0: the two attributes are independent Reject H0 : the two attributes are independent
Accept H1: One attribute depends on the other

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Chi-square as a Test of Goodness of Fit

Objective
To assess whether or not there is a significant
difference between observed frequency fo & expected
frequency fe
The term Goodness of Fit signifies how well the
theoretical distribution like Binomial, Poisson or
Normal distribution fits or represents the observed
frequency distribution
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Chi-square as a Test of Goodness of Fit

The following is the summarized procedure:

Step (i) H0 : fo = fe (Theoretical distribution is a good fit)

H1: Not all fo are equal to fe (Theoretical distribution is not a good fit)

Step (ii) Assuming α =0.05, 2 critical = {from table depending on }

( depends on the Probability Distribution)

Step (iii) Calculate 2 statistic

χ statistic
2 
fo - fe 
2

fe

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Chi-square as a Test of Goodness of Fit

Step (iv & v) : Decision Rule & Conclusion

2 Critical

If 2 statistic lies in acceptance area

Accept H0: fo= fe
i..e Theoretical distribution is a Good Fit

If 2 statistic lies in rejection area

Reject H0: fo= fe
Accept H1: Not all fo are equal to fe
i.e. Theoretical distribution is not a Good Fit for the given fo
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Precaution about using Chi-square Test

When the expected frequencies fe are too small, the value of 2 will be
overestimated

χ statistic
2 
fo - fe 
2

fe
1. To avoid making incorrect inferences from 2 test follow the
general rule that an expected frequency of less than five in one
cell of the contingency table is too small to use.
2. One of the suggested adjustments for small value of fe is
combining frequency of the cells in the table. i.e. if the table
contains more than one cell with an expected frequency of less
than 5, we can combine them in order to get an expected
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frequency of 5 or more.
Thanks and Good Luck

Dr. T. T. Kachwala

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