3. The steps of hypothesis testing You intend to draw a random sample in order to test a hypothesis about an unknown population mean. You will use a hypothesis test. A description of each of the steps of a hypothesis test follows, but they may be specified in the incorrect order. Specify the correct order of the steps. Draw a random sample, and calculate the sample statistic. Determine the null and alternative hypotheses. Determine the probability at which you will conclude that the sample outcome is very unlikely. Make a decision about the unknown population.