Univariate Statistical Tests Testing hypotheses using statistical tests involves much more than the tabulations included in a frequency distribution or the calculation of measures of central tendency or dispersion. Researchers not only describe data using means or percentages. They also provide tests of the likelihood that the sample numbers are correct or incorrect estimates of the population characteristics. The simplest types of tests are univariate tests of significance. Univariate tests of significance are used to test hypotheses when the researcher wishes to test a proposition about a sample characteristic against a known or given standard. The following are some examples of profositions