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Chi-Square Calculator

Perform chi-square tests of independence and goodness of fit for categorical data analysis

Test Type

Test of Independence: Determine if two categorical variables are independent using a contingency table
Goodness of Fit: Test if observed frequencies match expected distribution
Leave blank for equal expected frequencies

Results

Select a test type and enter data to see results

Understanding Chi-Square Tests

The chi-square (χ²) test is a statistical method used to analyze categorical data. It tests whether observed frequencies differ significantly from expected frequencies.

Chi-Square Formula

χ² = Σ [(O - E)² / E]

Where: O = Observed frequency, E = Expected frequency

1. Test of Independence

Tests whether two categorical variables are independent or associated.

Hypotheses:

  • H₀ (Null): Variables are independent (no association)
  • H₁ (Alternative): Variables are dependent (associated)

Expected Frequency Formula:

E = (Row Total × Column Total) / Grand Total

Degrees of Freedom:

df = (rows - 1) × (columns - 1)

2. Goodness of Fit Test

Tests whether observed sample distribution matches an expected theoretical distribution.

Hypotheses:

  • H₀ (Null): Data follows the expected distribution
  • H₁ (Alternative): Data does NOT follow the expected distribution

Degrees of Freedom:

df = k - 1

Where k = number of categories

Interpreting Results

  • If p-value ≤ α: Reject H₀ (significant association/difference exists)
  • If p-value > α: Fail to reject H₀ (no significant association/difference)
  • Larger χ²: Indicates greater difference between observed and expected

Assumptions

  • Independence: Observations must be independent
  • Sample Size: Expected frequency ≥ 5 in at least 80% of cells
  • Random Sampling: Data should come from random samples
  • Categorical Data: Variables must be categorical (not continuous)

Real-World Applications

Field Application
Medicine Test relationship between treatment and outcome
Marketing Analyze customer preferences across demographics
Genetics Test if observed ratios match Mendelian predictions
Education Examine relationship between teaching method and performance
Social Sciences Study associations between social factors
Quality Control Test if defect rates match expected distributions

Example: Test of Independence

Scenario: Testing if gender is independent of product preference

Product A Product B Total
Male 30 20 50
Female 15 35 50
Total 45 55 100

Expected frequency for Male/Product A: (50 × 45) / 100 = 22.5

If χ² is large and p-value < 0.05, we conclude gender and product preference are associated.

Effect Size: Cramér's V

Measures strength of association (ranges from 0 to 1):

V = √(χ² / (n × (min(rows, cols) - 1)))
  • Small effect: V ≈ 0.1
  • Medium effect: V ≈ 0.3
  • Large effect: V ≈ 0.5
Tip: Chi-square tests are sensitive to sample size. With very large samples, even trivial differences can be statistically significant. Always consider practical significance alongside statistical significance.

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Chi‑Square Calculator: Frequently Asked Questions

When do I use a chi‑square test?

Use goodness‑of‑fit to test if observed counts match expected proportions; use test of independence to check association between two categorical variables.

What are the assumptions?

Data are counts in categories, observations are independent, and expected cell counts are not too small (rule of thumb ≥ 5 for most cells).

How are expected counts computed?

For independence, expected = (row total × column total) ÷ grand total. For goodness‑of‑fit, expected = total × hypothesized proportion.

How do I interpret χ² and p‑value?

Larger χ² suggests bigger deviation from expectation. The p‑value quantifies how unusual the observed deviations are under the null hypothesis.