Exercise: Lucky for Spurs?

Tottenham Hotspur football club ("Spurs") have won major trophies in the following years: 1901, 1921, 1951, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1991, 1999. Hence, during the 20th century, Spurs won something in eight of the nine football seasons that “end in a one”. Of the remaining 81 they won something in eight. (Wartime years have been excluded.) It is said to be "Lucky for Spurs if the year ends in one".

Whether Totenham Hotspur won a trophy by last digit of year at the end of the season
Ends in a “1” Doesn’t end in a “1” Total
Trophy 8 8 16
No trophy 1 73 74
Total 9 81 90
Fisher's exact test: P<0.00001
(1915-18 and 1940-45 excluded)

**Whether Totenham Hotspur won a trophy by last digit of year at the end of the season**
	Ends in a “1”	Doesn’t end in a “1”	Total
Trophy	8	8	16
No trophy	1	73	74
Total	9	81	90
Fisher's exact test: P<0.00001
(1915-18 and 1940-45 excluded)

Questions

1. What is the null hypothesis being tested here?

Check suggested answer 1

2. Where do you think this null hypothesis came from? Did someone decide to investigate it out of curiosity?

Check suggested answer 2

3. Why is it wrong to apply a significance test to this table?

Check suggested answer 3

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Last updated: 22 January, 2008.