Step 1 :The question is asking for the definition of a type I error in the context of hypothesis testing in statistics. This is a theoretical concept and does not require any calculations.
Step 2 :A type I error, also known as a false positive, occurs when the null hypothesis is true, but is incorrectly rejected. This means that we conclude there is an effect or difference when in reality there isn't.
Step 3 :Final Answer: A type I error occurs when the null hypothesis is true, but is incorrectly rejected.