Design an A/B test for a search ranking change
Last updated: November 20, 2025
Quick Overview
Design an experiment to test the impact of a redesigned homepage. Include sample size calculation, metrics, and analysis plan.
Airbnb
November 20, 2025100
6
3,196 solved
Design an experiment to test the impact of a redesigned homepage. Include sample size calculation, metrics, and analysis plan.
Statistics questions at Airbnb test your ability to reason quantitatively and design rigorous experiments. This Onsite question evaluates your understanding of statistical inference and its application to business decisions.
What the Interviewer Expects
- Set up the problem formally with proper notation
- Apply the correct statistical test with clear justification
- Interpret results with appropriate caveats and confidence levels
- Discuss practical significance vs statistical significance
- Identify potential confounders and how to address them
Key Topics to Cover
How to Approach This
- Define your hypotheses (H0 and H1) clearly before performing any test.
- Calculate required sample size BEFORE running an experiment, using power analysis.
- Remember the Central Limit Theorem: sample means become approximately normal with large n.
- Watch for Simpson's paradox. Always segment data by key dimensions.
- Distinguish between statistical significance and practical significance.
Possible Follow-up Questions
- What alternative statistical method could you use here?
- How would you explain this result to a non-technical audience?
- How would you handle multiple comparisons?
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Setting Up the Problem
Start by formalizing the problem: 1. **Define the hypotheses**: H0 (null hypothesis) and H1 (alternative). Be precise about what you're testing. 2. ...
Solution Approach
**Compute the test statistic**: Apply the appropriate formula using the sample data. **Find the p-value**: The probability of observing a result this...
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