The Application of Inferential Statistics in Testing Research Hypotheses in Library and Information Science

There is growing concern on different type of analyzing research hypothesis that is carried out in whole spectrum of knowledge and many of the researchers fail to understand the right tool for testing the hypothesis and this leads to poor data analysis and wrong inferences. Testing hypothesis in research is the basic ingredient of all research activities and if done correctly, suitable inferences were made which lead to concrete and accurate findings that can be used for products or services development or improvement, or policy formulation. Hence, this paper discusses the different types of inferential statistics which include both parametric and non-parametric and also the condition of applying any type of inferential statistics by researchers. In the process, the paper divides parametric and non-parametric inferential statistics in to relational and differential. The paper also outlines the conditions for using each type inferential statistics and procedures for making inferences. The paper concludes with an emphasis for librarians and other researchers in the body of knowledge to up skill and retools themselves in order to enhance their skills, knowledge of research and attain better strategies on how to advance the frontiers of knowledge, working environments and other sectors in a 21st century