GATE 2025 XH5 (Psychology) – Question 64

Research Methods and Statistics · Statistics in Psychology: Central tendency and dispersion, normal probability curve, parametric and non-parametric tests, effect size and power analysis · 2 marks · Numerical answer

When the probability of Type I error ($\alpha$) is 0.05 and the maximum acceptable probability of Type II error ($\beta$) is 0.20, the researcher is willing to accept that Type I error is __________ (answer in integer) times more serious than a Type II error.

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Correct answer: 4

Explanation

A researcher who allows a Type II error probability of 0.20 but a Type I error probability of only 0.05 treats a Type I error as $\frac{\beta}{\alpha} = \frac{0.20}{0.05} = 4$ times as serious.