Have a thesis expert improve your writing

Check your thesis for plagiarism in 10 minutes, generate your apa citations for free.

  • Knowledge Base
  • Null and Alternative Hypotheses | Definitions & Examples

Null and Alternative Hypotheses | Definitions & Examples

Published on 5 October 2022 by Shaun Turney . Revised on 6 December 2022.

The null and alternative hypotheses are two competing claims that researchers weigh evidence for and against using a statistical test :

  • Null hypothesis (H 0 ): There’s no effect in the population .
  • Alternative hypothesis (H A ): There’s an effect in the population.

The effect is usually the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable .

Table of contents

Answering your research question with hypotheses, what is a null hypothesis, what is an alternative hypothesis, differences between null and alternative hypotheses, how to write null and alternative hypotheses, frequently asked questions about null and alternative hypotheses.

The null and alternative hypotheses offer competing answers to your research question . When the research question asks “Does the independent variable affect the dependent variable?”, the null hypothesis (H 0 ) answers “No, there’s no effect in the population.” On the other hand, the alternative hypothesis (H A ) answers “Yes, there is an effect in the population.”

The null and alternative are always claims about the population. That’s because the goal of hypothesis testing is to make inferences about a population based on a sample . Often, we infer whether there’s an effect in the population by looking at differences between groups or relationships between variables in the sample.

You can use a statistical test to decide whether the evidence favors the null or alternative hypothesis. Each type of statistical test comes with a specific way of phrasing the null and alternative hypothesis. However, the hypotheses can also be phrased in a general way that applies to any test.

The null hypothesis is the claim that there’s no effect in the population.

If the sample provides enough evidence against the claim that there’s no effect in the population ( p ≤ α), then we can reject the null hypothesis . Otherwise, we fail to reject the null hypothesis.

Although “fail to reject” may sound awkward, it’s the only wording that statisticians accept. Be careful not to say you “prove” or “accept” the null hypothesis.

Null hypotheses often include phrases such as “no effect”, “no difference”, or “no relationship”. When written in mathematical terms, they always include an equality (usually =, but sometimes ≥ or ≤).

Examples of null hypotheses

The table below gives examples of research questions and null hypotheses. There’s always more than one way to answer a research question, but these null hypotheses can help you get started.

*Note that some researchers prefer to always write the null hypothesis in terms of “no effect” and “=”. It would be fine to say that daily meditation has no effect on the incidence of depression and p 1 = p 2 .

The alternative hypothesis (H A ) is the other answer to your research question . It claims that there’s an effect in the population.

Often, your alternative hypothesis is the same as your research hypothesis. In other words, it’s the claim that you expect or hope will be true.

The alternative hypothesis is the complement to the null hypothesis. Null and alternative hypotheses are exhaustive, meaning that together they cover every possible outcome. They are also mutually exclusive, meaning that only one can be true at a time.

Alternative hypotheses often include phrases such as “an effect”, “a difference”, or “a relationship”. When alternative hypotheses are written in mathematical terms, they always include an inequality (usually ≠, but sometimes > or <). As with null hypotheses, there are many acceptable ways to phrase an alternative hypothesis.

Examples of alternative hypotheses

The table below gives examples of research questions and alternative hypotheses to help you get started with formulating your own.

Null and alternative hypotheses are similar in some ways:

  • They’re both answers to the research question
  • They both make claims about the population
  • They’re both evaluated by statistical tests.

However, there are important differences between the two types of hypotheses, summarized in the following table.

To help you write your hypotheses, you can use the template sentences below. If you know which statistical test you’re going to use, you can use the test-specific template sentences. Otherwise, you can use the general template sentences.

The only thing you need to know to use these general template sentences are your dependent and independent variables. To write your research question, null hypothesis, and alternative hypothesis, fill in the following sentences with your variables:

Does independent variable affect dependent variable ?

  • Null hypothesis (H 0 ): Independent variable does not affect dependent variable .
  • Alternative hypothesis (H A ): Independent variable affects dependent variable .

Test-specific

Once you know the statistical test you’ll be using, you can write your hypotheses in a more precise and mathematical way specific to the test you chose. The table below provides template sentences for common statistical tests.

Note: The template sentences above assume that you’re performing one-tailed tests . One-tailed tests are appropriate for most studies.

The null hypothesis is often abbreviated as H 0 . When the null hypothesis is written using mathematical symbols, it always includes an equality symbol (usually =, but sometimes ≥ or ≤).

The alternative hypothesis is often abbreviated as H a or H 1 . When the alternative hypothesis is written using mathematical symbols, it always includes an inequality symbol (usually ≠, but sometimes < or >).

A research hypothesis is your proposed answer to your research question. The research hypothesis usually includes an explanation (‘ x affects y because …’).

A statistical hypothesis, on the other hand, is a mathematical statement about a population parameter. Statistical hypotheses always come in pairs: the null and alternative hypotheses. In a well-designed study , the statistical hypotheses correspond logically to the research hypothesis.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the ‘Cite this Scribbr article’ button to automatically add the citation to our free Reference Generator.

Turney, S. (2022, December 06). Null and Alternative Hypotheses | Definitions & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved 15 April 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/stats/null-and-alternative-hypothesis/

Is this article helpful?

Shaun Turney

Shaun Turney

Other students also liked, levels of measurement: nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio, the standard normal distribution | calculator, examples & uses, types of variables in research | definitions & examples.

If you're seeing this message, it means we're having trouble loading external resources on our website.

If you're behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains *.kastatic.org and *.kasandbox.org are unblocked.

To log in and use all the features of Khan Academy, please enable JavaScript in your browser.

AP®︎/College Statistics

Course: ap®︎/college statistics   >   unit 10.

  • Idea behind hypothesis testing

Examples of null and alternative hypotheses

  • Writing null and alternative hypotheses
  • P-values and significance tests
  • Comparing P-values to different significance levels
  • Estimating a P-value from a simulation
  • Estimating P-values from simulations
  • Using P-values to make conclusions

Want to join the conversation?

  • Upvote Button navigates to signup page
  • Downvote Button navigates to signup page
  • Flag Button navigates to signup page

Good Answer

Video transcript

9.1 Null and Alternative Hypotheses

The actual test begins by considering two hypotheses . They are called the null hypothesis and the alternative hypothesis . These hypotheses contain opposing viewpoints.

H 0 , the — null hypothesis: a statement of no difference between sample means or proportions or no difference between a sample mean or proportion and a population mean or proportion. In other words, the difference equals 0.

H a —, the alternative hypothesis: a claim about the population that is contradictory to H 0 and what we conclude when we reject H 0 .

Since the null and alternative hypotheses are contradictory, you must examine evidence to decide if you have enough evidence to reject the null hypothesis or not. The evidence is in the form of sample data.

After you have determined which hypothesis the sample supports, you make a decision. There are two options for a decision. They are reject H 0 if the sample information favors the alternative hypothesis or do not reject H 0 or decline to reject H 0 if the sample information is insufficient to reject the null hypothesis.

Mathematical Symbols Used in H 0 and H a :

H 0 always has a symbol with an equal in it. H a never has a symbol with an equal in it. The choice of symbol depends on the wording of the hypothesis test. However, be aware that many researchers use = in the null hypothesis, even with > or < as the symbol in the alternative hypothesis. This practice is acceptable because we only make the decision to reject or not reject the null hypothesis.

Example 9.1

H 0 : No more than 30 percent of the registered voters in Santa Clara County voted in the primary election. p ≤ 30 H a : More than 30 percent of the registered voters in Santa Clara County voted in the primary election. p > 30

A medical trial is conducted to test whether or not a new medicine reduces cholesterol by 25 percent. State the null and alternative hypotheses.

Example 9.2

We want to test whether the mean GPA of students in American colleges is different from 2.0 (out of 4.0). The null and alternative hypotheses are the following: H 0 : μ = 2.0 H a : μ ≠ 2.0

We want to test whether the mean height of eighth graders is 66 inches. State the null and alternative hypotheses. Fill in the correct symbol (=, ≠, ≥, <, ≤, >) for the null and alternative hypotheses.

  • H 0 : μ __ 66
  • H a : μ __ 66

Example 9.3

We want to test if college students take fewer than five years to graduate from college, on the average. The null and alternative hypotheses are the following: H 0 : μ ≥ 5 H a : μ < 5

We want to test if it takes fewer than 45 minutes to teach a lesson plan. State the null and alternative hypotheses. Fill in the correct symbol ( =, ≠, ≥, <, ≤, >) for the null and alternative hypotheses.

  • H 0 : μ __ 45
  • H a : μ __ 45

Example 9.4

An article on school standards stated that about half of all students in France, Germany, and Israel take advanced placement exams and a third of the students pass. The same article stated that 6.6 percent of U.S. students take advanced placement exams and 4.4 percent pass. Test if the percentage of U.S. students who take advanced placement exams is more than 6.6 percent. State the null and alternative hypotheses. H 0 : p ≤ 0.066 H a : p > 0.066

On a state driver’s test, about 40 percent pass the test on the first try. We want to test if more than 40 percent pass on the first try. Fill in the correct symbol (=, ≠, ≥, <, ≤, >) for the null and alternative hypotheses.

  • H 0 : p __ 0.40
  • H a : p __ 0.40

Collaborative Exercise

Bring to class a newspaper, some news magazines, and some internet articles. In groups, find articles from which your group can write null and alternative hypotheses. Discuss your hypotheses with the rest of the class.

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

This book may not be used in the training of large language models or otherwise be ingested into large language models or generative AI offerings without OpenStax's permission.

Want to cite, share, or modify this book? This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution License and you must attribute Texas Education Agency (TEA). The original material is available at: https://www.texasgateway.org/book/tea-statistics . Changes were made to the original material, including updates to art, structure, and other content updates.

Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/statistics/pages/1-introduction
  • Authors: Barbara Illowsky, Susan Dean
  • Publisher/website: OpenStax
  • Book title: Statistics
  • Publication date: Mar 27, 2020
  • Location: Houston, Texas
  • Book URL: https://openstax.org/books/statistics/pages/1-introduction
  • Section URL: https://openstax.org/books/statistics/pages/9-1-null-and-alternative-hypotheses

© Jan 23, 2024 Texas Education Agency (TEA). The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.

Library homepage

  • school Campus Bookshelves
  • menu_book Bookshelves
  • perm_media Learning Objects
  • login Login
  • how_to_reg Request Instructor Account
  • hub Instructor Commons
  • Download Page (PDF)
  • Download Full Book (PDF)
  • Periodic Table
  • Physics Constants
  • Scientific Calculator
  • Reference & Cite
  • Tools expand_more
  • Readability

selected template will load here

This action is not available.

Statistics LibreTexts

9.2: Null and Alternative Hypotheses

  • Last updated
  • Save as PDF
  • Page ID 771

The actual test begins by considering two hypotheses . They are called the null hypothesis and the alternative hypothesis . These hypotheses contain opposing viewpoints.

\(H_0\): The null hypothesis: It is a statement of no difference between the variables—they are not related. This can often be considered the status quo and as a result if you cannot accept the null it requires some action.

\(H_a\): The alternative hypothesis: It is a claim about the population that is contradictory to \(H_0\) and what we conclude when we reject \(H_0\). This is usually what the researcher is trying to prove.

Since the null and alternative hypotheses are contradictory, you must examine evidence to decide if you have enough evidence to reject the null hypothesis or not. The evidence is in the form of sample data.

After you have determined which hypothesis the sample supports, you make a decision. There are two options for a decision. They are "reject \(H_0\)" if the sample information favors the alternative hypothesis or "do not reject \(H_0\)" or "decline to reject \(H_0\)" if the sample information is insufficient to reject the null hypothesis.

\(H_{0}\) always has a symbol with an equal in it. \(H_{a}\) never has a symbol with an equal in it. The choice of symbol depends on the wording of the hypothesis test. However, be aware that many researchers (including one of the co-authors in research work) use = in the null hypothesis, even with > or < as the symbol in the alternative hypothesis. This practice is acceptable because we only make the decision to reject or not reject the null hypothesis.

Example \(\PageIndex{1}\)

  • \(H_{0}\): No more than 30% of the registered voters in Santa Clara County voted in the primary election. \(p \leq 30\)
  • \(H_{a}\): More than 30% of the registered voters in Santa Clara County voted in the primary election. \(p > 30\)

Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)

A medical trial is conducted to test whether or not a new medicine reduces cholesterol by 25%. State the null and alternative hypotheses.

  • \(H_{0}\): The drug reduces cholesterol by 25%. \(p = 0.25\)
  • \(H_{a}\): The drug does not reduce cholesterol by 25%. \(p \neq 0.25\)

Example \(\PageIndex{2}\)

We want to test whether the mean GPA of students in American colleges is different from 2.0 (out of 4.0). The null and alternative hypotheses are:

  • \(H_{0}: \mu = 2.0\)
  • \(H_{a}: \mu \neq 2.0\)

Exercise \(\PageIndex{2}\)

We want to test whether the mean height of eighth graders is 66 inches. State the null and alternative hypotheses. Fill in the correct symbol \((=, \neq, \geq, <, \leq, >)\) for the null and alternative hypotheses.

  • \(H_{0}: \mu \_ 66\)
  • \(H_{a}: \mu \_ 66\)
  • \(H_{0}: \mu = 66\)
  • \(H_{a}: \mu \neq 66\)

Example \(\PageIndex{3}\)

We want to test if college students take less than five years to graduate from college, on the average. The null and alternative hypotheses are:

  • \(H_{0}: \mu \geq 5\)
  • \(H_{a}: \mu < 5\)

Exercise \(\PageIndex{3}\)

We want to test if it takes fewer than 45 minutes to teach a lesson plan. State the null and alternative hypotheses. Fill in the correct symbol ( =, ≠, ≥, <, ≤, >) for the null and alternative hypotheses.

  • \(H_{0}: \mu \_ 45\)
  • \(H_{a}: \mu \_ 45\)
  • \(H_{0}: \mu \geq 45\)
  • \(H_{a}: \mu < 45\)

Example \(\PageIndex{4}\)

In an issue of U. S. News and World Report , an article on school standards stated that about half of all students in France, Germany, and Israel take advanced placement exams and a third pass. The same article stated that 6.6% of U.S. students take advanced placement exams and 4.4% pass. Test if the percentage of U.S. students who take advanced placement exams is more than 6.6%. State the null and alternative hypotheses.

  • \(H_{0}: p \leq 0.066\)
  • \(H_{a}: p > 0.066\)

Exercise \(\PageIndex{4}\)

On a state driver’s test, about 40% pass the test on the first try. We want to test if more than 40% pass on the first try. Fill in the correct symbol (\(=, \neq, \geq, <, \leq, >\)) for the null and alternative hypotheses.

  • \(H_{0}: p \_ 0.40\)
  • \(H_{a}: p \_ 0.40\)
  • \(H_{0}: p = 0.40\)
  • \(H_{a}: p > 0.40\)

COLLABORATIVE EXERCISE

Bring to class a newspaper, some news magazines, and some Internet articles . In groups, find articles from which your group can write null and alternative hypotheses. Discuss your hypotheses with the rest of the class.

In a hypothesis test , sample data is evaluated in order to arrive at a decision about some type of claim. If certain conditions about the sample are satisfied, then the claim can be evaluated for a population. In a hypothesis test, we:

  • Evaluate the null hypothesis , typically denoted with \(H_{0}\). The null is not rejected unless the hypothesis test shows otherwise. The null statement must always contain some form of equality \((=, \leq \text{or} \geq)\)
  • Always write the alternative hypothesis , typically denoted with \(H_{a}\) or \(H_{1}\), using less than, greater than, or not equals symbols, i.e., \((\neq, >, \text{or} <)\).
  • If we reject the null hypothesis, then we can assume there is enough evidence to support the alternative hypothesis.
  • Never state that a claim is proven true or false. Keep in mind the underlying fact that hypothesis testing is based on probability laws; therefore, we can talk only in terms of non-absolute certainties.

Formula Review

\(H_{0}\) and \(H_{a}\) are contradictory.

  • If \(\alpha \leq p\)-value, then do not reject \(H_{0}\).
  • If\(\alpha > p\)-value, then reject \(H_{0}\).

\(\alpha\) is preconceived. Its value is set before the hypothesis test starts. The \(p\)-value is calculated from the data.References

Data from the National Institute of Mental Health. Available online at http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/depression.cfm .

User Preferences

Content preview.

Arcu felis bibendum ut tristique et egestas quis:

  • Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris
  • Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate
  • Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Keyboard Shortcuts

10.1 - setting the hypotheses: examples.

A significance test examines whether the null hypothesis provides a plausible explanation of the data. The null hypothesis itself does not involve the data. It is a statement about a parameter (a numerical characteristic of the population). These population values might be proportions or means or differences between means or proportions or correlations or odds ratios or any other numerical summary of the population. The alternative hypothesis is typically the research hypothesis of interest. Here are some examples.

Example 10.2: Hypotheses with One Sample of One Categorical Variable Section  

About 10% of the human population is left-handed. Suppose a researcher at Penn State speculates that students in the College of Arts and Architecture are more likely to be left-handed than people found in the general population. We only have one sample since we will be comparing a population proportion based on a sample value to a known population value.

  • Research Question : Are artists more likely to be left-handed than people found in the general population?
  • Response Variable : Classification of the student as either right-handed or left-handed

State Null and Alternative Hypotheses

  • Null Hypothesis : Students in the College of Arts and Architecture are no more likely to be left-handed than people in the general population (population percent of left-handed students in the College of Art and Architecture = 10% or p = .10).
  • Alternative Hypothesis : Students in the College of Arts and Architecture are more likely to be left-handed than people in the general population (population percent of left-handed students in the College of Arts and Architecture > 10% or p > .10). This is a one-sided alternative hypothesis.

Example 10.3: Hypotheses with One Sample of One Measurement Variable Section  

 two Diphenhydramine pills

A generic brand of the anti-histamine Diphenhydramine markets a capsule with a 50 milligram dose. The manufacturer is worried that the machine that fills the capsules has come out of calibration and is no longer creating capsules with the appropriate dosage.

  • Research Question : Does the data suggest that the population mean dosage of this brand is different than 50 mg?
  • Response Variable : dosage of the active ingredient found by a chemical assay.
  • Null Hypothesis : On the average, the dosage sold under this brand is 50 mg (population mean dosage = 50 mg).
  • Alternative Hypothesis : On the average, the dosage sold under this brand is not 50 mg (population mean dosage ≠ 50 mg). This is a two-sided alternative hypothesis.

Example 10.4: Hypotheses with Two Samples of One Categorical Variable Section  

vegetarian airline meal

Many people are starting to prefer vegetarian meals on a regular basis. Specifically, a researcher believes that females are more likely than males to eat vegetarian meals on a regular basis.

  • Research Question : Does the data suggest that females are more likely than males to eat vegetarian meals on a regular basis?
  • Response Variable : Classification of whether or not a person eats vegetarian meals on a regular basis
  • Explanatory (Grouping) Variable: Sex
  • Null Hypothesis : There is no sex effect regarding those who eat vegetarian meals on a regular basis (population percent of females who eat vegetarian meals on a regular basis = population percent of males who eat vegetarian meals on a regular basis or p females = p males ).
  • Alternative Hypothesis : Females are more likely than males to eat vegetarian meals on a regular basis (population percent of females who eat vegetarian meals on a regular basis > population percent of males who eat vegetarian meals on a regular basis or p females > p males ). This is a one-sided alternative hypothesis.

Example 10.5: Hypotheses with Two Samples of One Measurement Variable Section  

low carb meal

Obesity is a major health problem today. Research is starting to show that people may be able to lose more weight on a low carbohydrate diet than on a low fat diet.

  • Research Question : Does the data suggest that, on the average, people are able to lose more weight on a low carbohydrate diet than on a low fat diet?
  • Response Variable : Weight loss (pounds)
  • Explanatory (Grouping) Variable : Type of diet
  • Null Hypothesis : There is no difference in the mean amount of weight loss when comparing a low carbohydrate diet with a low fat diet (population mean weight loss on a low carbohydrate diet = population mean weight loss on a low fat diet).
  • Alternative Hypothesis : The mean weight loss should be greater for those on a low carbohydrate diet when compared with those on a low fat diet (population mean weight loss on a low carbohydrate diet > population mean weight loss on a low fat diet). This is a one-sided alternative hypothesis.

Example 10.6: Hypotheses about the relationship between Two Categorical Variables Section  

  • Research Question : Do the odds of having a stroke increase if you inhale second hand smoke ? A case-control study of non-smoking stroke patients and controls of the same age and occupation are asked if someone in their household smokes.
  • Variables : There are two different categorical variables (Stroke patient vs control and whether the subject lives in the same household as a smoker). Living with a smoker (or not) is the natural explanatory variable and having a stroke (or not) is the natural response variable in this situation.
  • Null Hypothesis : There is no relationship between whether or not a person has a stroke and whether or not a person lives with a smoker (odds ratio between stroke and second-hand smoke situation is = 1).
  • Alternative Hypothesis : There is a relationship between whether or not a person has a stroke and whether or not a person lives with a smoker (odds ratio between stroke and second-hand smoke situation is > 1). This is a one-tailed alternative.

This research question might also be addressed like example 11.4 by making the hypotheses about comparing the proportion of stroke patients that live with smokers to the proportion of controls that live with smokers.

Example 10.7: Hypotheses about the relationship between Two Measurement Variables Section  

  • Research Question : A financial analyst believes there might be a positive association between the change in a stock's price and the amount of the stock purchased by non-management employees the previous day (stock trading by management being under "insider-trading" regulatory restrictions).
  • Variables : Daily price change information (the response variable) and previous day stock purchases by non-management employees (explanatory variable). These are two different measurement variables.
  • Null Hypothesis : The correlation between the daily stock price change (\$) and the daily stock purchases by non-management employees (\$) = 0.
  • Alternative Hypothesis : The correlation between the daily stock price change (\$) and the daily stock purchases by non-management employees (\$) > 0. This is a one-sided alternative hypothesis.

Example 10.8: Hypotheses about comparing the relationship between Two Measurement Variables in Two Samples Section  

Calculation of a person's approximate tip for their meal

  • Research Question : Is there a linear relationship between the amount of the bill (\$) at a restaurant and the tip (\$) that was left. Is the strength of this association different for family restaurants than for fine dining restaurants?
  • Variables : There are two different measurement variables. The size of the tip would depend on the size of the bill so the amount of the bill would be the explanatory variable and the size of the tip would be the response variable.
  • Null Hypothesis : The correlation between the amount of the bill (\$) at a restaurant and the tip (\$) that was left is the same at family restaurants as it is at fine dining restaurants.
  • Alternative Hypothesis : The correlation between the amount of the bill (\$) at a restaurant and the tip (\$) that was left is the difference at family restaurants then it is at fine dining restaurants. This is a two-sided alternative hypothesis.

Our websites may use cookies to personalize and enhance your experience. By continuing without changing your cookie settings, you agree to this collection. For more information, please see our University Websites Privacy Notice .

Neag School of Education

Educational Research Basics by Del Siegle

Null and alternative hypotheses.

Converting research questions to hypothesis is a simple task. Take the questions and make it a positive statement that says a relationship exists (correlation studies) or a difference exists between the groups (experiment study) and you have the alternative hypothesis. Write the statement such that a relationship does not exist or a difference does not exist and you have the null hypothesis. You can reverse the process if you have a hypothesis and wish to write a research question.

When you are comparing two groups, the groups are the independent variable. When you are testing whether something affects something else, the cause is the independent variable. The independent variable is the one you manipulate.

Teachers given higher pay will have more positive attitudes toward children than teachers given lower pay. The first step is to ask yourself “Are there two or more groups being compared?” The answer is “Yes.” What are the groups? Teachers who are given higher pay and teachers who are given lower pay. The independent variable is teacher pay. The dependent variable (the outcome) is attitude towards school.

You could also approach is another way. “Is something causing something else?” The answer is “Yes.”  What is causing what? Teacher pay is causing attitude towards school. Therefore, teacher pay is the independent variable (cause) and attitude towards school is the dependent variable (outcome).

By tradition, we try to disprove (reject) the null hypothesis. We can never prove a null hypothesis, because it is impossible to prove something does not exist. We can disprove something does not exist by finding an example of it. Therefore, in research we try to disprove the null hypothesis. When we do find that a relationship (or difference) exists then we reject the null and accept the alternative. If we do not find that a relationship (or difference) exists, we fail to reject the null hypothesis (and go with it). We never say we accept the null hypothesis because it is never possible to prove something does not exist. That is why we say that we failed to reject the null hypothesis, rather than we accepted it.

Del Siegle, Ph.D. Neag School of Education – University of Connecticut [email protected] www.delsiegle.com

Module 9: Hypothesis Testing With One Sample

Null and alternative hypotheses, learning outcomes.

  • Describe hypothesis testing in general and in practice

The actual test begins by considering two  hypotheses . They are called the null hypothesis and the alternative hypothesis . These hypotheses contain opposing viewpoints.

H 0 : The null hypothesis: It is a statement about the population that either is believed to be true or is used to put forth an argument unless it can be shown to be incorrect beyond a reasonable doubt.

H a : The alternative hypothesis : It is a claim about the population that is contradictory to H 0 and what we conclude when we reject H 0 .

Since the null and alternative hypotheses are contradictory, you must examine evidence to decide if you have enough evidence to reject the null hypothesis or not. The evidence is in the form of sample data.

After you have determined which hypothesis the sample supports, you make adecision. There are two options for a  decision . They are “reject H 0 ” if the sample information favors the alternative hypothesis or “do not reject H 0 ” or “decline to reject H 0 ” if the sample information is insufficient to reject the null hypothesis.

Mathematical Symbols Used in  H 0 and H a :

H 0 always has a symbol with an equal in it. H a never has a symbol with an equal in it. The choice of symbol depends on the wording of the hypothesis test. However, be aware that many researchers (including one of the co-authors in research work) use = in the null hypothesis, even with > or < as the symbol in the alternative hypothesis. This practice is acceptable because we only make the decision to reject or not reject the null hypothesis.

H 0 : No more than 30% of the registered voters in Santa Clara County voted in the primary election. p ≤ 30

H a : More than 30% of the registered voters in Santa Clara County voted in the primary election. p > 30

A medical trial is conducted to test whether or not a new medicine reduces cholesterol by 25%. State the null and alternative hypotheses.

H 0 : The drug reduces cholesterol by 25%. p = 0.25

H a : The drug does not reduce cholesterol by 25%. p ≠ 0.25

We want to test whether the mean GPA of students in American colleges is different from 2.0 (out of 4.0). The null and alternative hypotheses are:

H 0 : μ = 2.0

H a : μ ≠ 2.0

We want to test whether the mean height of eighth graders is 66 inches. State the null and alternative hypotheses. Fill in the correct symbol (=, ≠, ≥, <, ≤, >) for the null and alternative hypotheses. H 0 : μ __ 66 H a : μ __ 66

  • H 0 : μ = 66
  • H a : μ ≠ 66

We want to test if college students take less than five years to graduate from college, on the average. The null and alternative hypotheses are:

H 0 : μ ≥ 5

H a : μ < 5

We want to test if it takes fewer than 45 minutes to teach a lesson plan. State the null and alternative hypotheses. Fill in the correct symbol ( =, ≠, ≥, <, ≤, >) for the null and alternative hypotheses. H 0 : μ __ 45 H a : μ __ 45

  • H 0 : μ ≥ 45
  • H a : μ < 45

In an issue of U.S. News and World Report , an article on school standards stated that about half of all students in France, Germany, and Israel take advanced placement exams and a third pass. The same article stated that 6.6% of U.S. students take advanced placement exams and 4.4% pass. Test if the percentage of U.S. students who take advanced placement exams is more than 6.6%. State the null and alternative hypotheses.

H 0 : p ≤ 0.066

H a : p > 0.066

On a state driver’s test, about 40% pass the test on the first try. We want to test if more than 40% pass on the first try. Fill in the correct symbol (=, ≠, ≥, <, ≤, >) for the null and alternative hypotheses. H 0 : p __ 0.40 H a : p __ 0.40

  • H 0 : p = 0.40
  • H a : p > 0.40

Concept Review

In a  hypothesis test , sample data is evaluated in order to arrive at a decision about some type of claim. If certain conditions about the sample are satisfied, then the claim can be evaluated for a population. In a hypothesis test, we: Evaluate the null hypothesis , typically denoted with H 0 . The null is not rejected unless the hypothesis test shows otherwise. The null statement must always contain some form of equality (=, ≤ or ≥) Always write the alternative hypothesis , typically denoted with H a or H 1 , using less than, greater than, or not equals symbols, i.e., (≠, >, or <). If we reject the null hypothesis, then we can assume there is enough evidence to support the alternative hypothesis. Never state that a claim is proven true or false. Keep in mind the underlying fact that hypothesis testing is based on probability laws; therefore, we can talk only in terms of non-absolute certainties.

Formula Review

H 0 and H a are contradictory.

  • OpenStax, Statistics, Null and Alternative Hypotheses. Provided by : OpenStax. Located at : http://cnx.org/contents/[email protected]:58/Introductory_Statistics . License : CC BY: Attribution
  • Introductory Statistics . Authored by : Barbara Illowski, Susan Dean. Provided by : Open Stax. Located at : http://cnx.org/contents/[email protected] . License : CC BY: Attribution . License Terms : Download for free at http://cnx.org/contents/[email protected]
  • Simple hypothesis testing | Probability and Statistics | Khan Academy. Authored by : Khan Academy. Located at : https://youtu.be/5D1gV37bKXY . License : All Rights Reserved . License Terms : Standard YouTube License

How to Write a Null and Alternative Hypothesis: A Guide with Examples

11 December 2023

last updated

When undertaking a qualitative or quantitative research project, researchers must first formulate a research question, from which they develop a hypothesis. By definition, a hypothesis is a prediction that a researcher makes about the research question and can either be affirmative or negative. In this case, a research question has three main components: variables (independent and dependent), a population sample, and the relation between the variables. When the prediction contradicts the research question, it is referred to as a null hypothesis. In short, a null hypothesis is a statement that implies there is no relationship between independent and dependent variables. Hence, researchers need to learn how to write a good null and alternative hypothesis to present quality studies.

General Aspect of Writing a Null and Alternative Hypothesis

Students with qualitative or quantitative research assignments must learn how to formulate and write a good research question and hypothesis. By definition, a hypothesis is an assumption or prediction that a researcher makes before undertaking an experimental investigation. Basically, academic standards require such a prediction to be a precise and testable statement, meaning that researchers must prove or disapprove of it in the course of the assignment. In this case, the main components of a hypothesis are variables (independent and dependent), a population sample, and the relation between the variables. Therefore, a research hypothesis is a prediction that researchers write about the relationship between two or more variables. In turn, the research inquiry is the process that seeks to answer the research question and, in the process, test the hypothesis by confirming or disapproving it.

How to write a null and alternative hypothesis

Types of Hypotheses

There are several types of hypotheses, including an alternative hypothesis, a null hypothesis, a directional hypothesis, and a non-directional hypothesis. Basically, the directional hypothesis is a prediction of how the independent variable affects the dependent variable. In contrast, the non-directional hypothesis predicts that the independent variable influences the dependent variable, but does not specify how. Regardless of the type, all hypotheses are about predicting the relationship between the independent and dependent variables.

What Is a Null and Alternative Hypothesis

A null hypothesis, usually symbolized as “H0,” is a statement that contradicts the research hypothesis. In other words, it is a negative statement, indicating that there is no relationship between the independent and dependent variables. By testing the null hypothesis, a researcher can determine whether the inquiry results are due to the chance or the effect of manipulating the dependent variable. In most instances, a null hypothesis corresponds with an alternative hypothesis, a positive statement that covers a relationship that exists between the independent and dependent variables. Also, it is highly recommendable that a researcher should write the alternative hypothesis first before the null hypothesis.

10 Examples of Research Questions with H0 and H1 Hypotheses

Before developing a hypothesis, a researcher must formulate the research question. Then, the next step is to transform the question into a negative statement that claims the lack of a relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Alternatively, researchers can change the question into a positive statement that includes a relationship that exists between the variables. In turn, this latter statement becomes the alternative hypothesis and is symbolized as H1. Hence, some of the examples of research questions and hull and alternative hypotheses are as follows:

1. Do physical exercises help individuals to age gracefully?

A Null Hypothesis (H0): Physical exercises are not a guarantee for graceful old age.

An Alternative Hypothesis (H1): Engaging in physical exercises enables individuals to remain healthy and active into old age.

2. What are the implications of therapeutic interventions in the fight against substance abuse?

H0: Therapeutic interventions are of no help in the fight against substance abuse.

H1: Exposing individuals with substance abuse disorders to therapeutic interventions help control and even stop their addictions.

3. How do sexual orientation and gender identity affect the experiences of late adolescents in foster care?

H0: Sexual orientation and gender identity have no effects on the experiences of late adolescents in foster care.

H1: The reality of stereotypes in society makes sexual orientation and gender identity factors complicate the experiences of late adolescents in foster care.

4. Does income inequality contribute to crime in high-density urban areas?

H0: There is no correlation between income inequality and incidences of crime in high-density urban areas.

H1: The high crime rates in high-density urban areas are due to the incidence of income inequality in those areas.

5. Does placement in foster care impact individuals’ mental health?

H0: There is no correlation between being in foster care and having mental health problems.

H1: Individuals placed in foster care experience anxiety and depression at one point in their life.

6. Do assistive devices and technologies lessen the mobility challenges of older adults with a stroke?

H0: Assistive devices and technologies do not provide any assistance to the mobility of older adults diagnosed with a stroke.

H1: Assistive devices and technologies enhance the mobility of older adults diagnosed with a stroke.

7. Does race identity undermine classroom participation?

H0: There is no correlation between racial identity and the ability to participate in classroom learning.

H1: Students from racial minorities are not as active as white students in classroom participation.

8. Do high school grades determine future success?

H0: There is no correlation between how one performs in high school and their success level in life.

H1: Attaining high grades in high school positions one for greater success in the future personal and professional lives.

9. Does critical thinking predict academic achievement?

H0: There is no correlation between critical thinking and academic achievement.

H1: Being a critical thinker is a pathway to academic success.

10. What benefits does group therapy provide to victims of domestic violence?

H0: Group therapy does not help victims of domestic violence because individuals prefer to hide rather than expose their shame.

H1: Group therapy provides domestic violence victims with a platform to share their hurt and connect with others with similar experiences.

Summing Up on How to Write a Null and Alternative Hypothesis

The formulation of research questions in qualitative and quantitative assignments helps students develop a hypothesis for their experiment. In this case, learning how to write a good hypothesis that helps students and researchers to make their research relevant. Basically, the difference between a null and alternative hypothesis is that the former contradicts the research question, while the latter affirms it. In short, a null hypothesis is a negative statement relative to the research question, and an alternative hypothesis is a positive statement. Moreover, it is important to note that developing the null hypothesis at the beginning of the assignment is for prediction purposes. As such, the research work answers the research question and confirms or disapproves of the hypothesis. Hence, some of the tips that students and researchers need to know when developing a null hypothesis include:

  • Formulate a research question that specifies the relationship between an independent variable and a dependent variable.
  • Develop an alternative hypothesis that says a relationship that exists between the variables.
  • Develop a null hypothesis that says a relationship that does not exist between the variables.
  • Conduct the research to answer the research question, which allows the confirmation of a disapproval of a null hypothesis.

To Learn More, Read Relevant Articles

Sat essay examples with explanations and recommendations, how to cite lecture notes in apa: basic guidelines.

Statology

Statistics Made Easy

How to Write a Null Hypothesis (5 Examples)

A hypothesis test uses sample data to determine whether or not some claim about a population parameter is true.

Whenever we perform a hypothesis test, we always write a null hypothesis and an alternative hypothesis, which take the following forms:

H 0 (Null Hypothesis): Population parameter =,  ≤, ≥ some value

H A  (Alternative Hypothesis): Population parameter <, >, ≠ some value

Note that the null hypothesis always contains the equal sign .

We interpret the hypotheses as follows:

Null hypothesis: The sample data provides no evidence to support some claim being made by an individual.

Alternative hypothesis: The sample data  does provide sufficient evidence to support the claim being made by an individual.

For example, suppose it’s assumed that the average height of a certain species of plant is 20 inches tall. However, one botanist claims the true average height is greater than 20 inches.

To test this claim, she may go out and collect a random sample of plants. She can then use this sample data to perform a hypothesis test using the following two hypotheses:

H 0 : μ ≤ 20 (the true mean height of plants is equal to or even less than 20 inches)

H A : μ > 20 (the true mean height of plants is greater than 20 inches)

If the sample data gathered by the botanist shows that the mean height of this species of plants is significantly greater than 20 inches, she can reject the null hypothesis and conclude that the mean height is greater than 20 inches.

Read through the following examples to gain a better understanding of how to write a null hypothesis in different situations.

Example 1: Weight of Turtles

A biologist wants to test whether or not the true mean weight of a certain species of turtles is 300 pounds. To test this, he goes out and measures the weight of a random sample of 40 turtles.

Here is how to write the null and alternative hypotheses for this scenario:

H 0 : μ = 300 (the true mean weight is equal to 300 pounds)

H A : μ ≠ 300 (the true mean weight is not equal to 300 pounds)

Example 2: Height of Males

It’s assumed that the mean height of males in a certain city is 68 inches. However, an independent researcher believes the true mean height is greater than 68 inches. To test this, he goes out and collects the height of 50 males in the city.

H 0 : μ ≤ 68 (the true mean height is equal to or even less than 68 inches)

H A : μ > 68 (the true mean height is greater than 68 inches)

Example 3: Graduation Rates

A university states that 80% of all students graduate on time. However, an independent researcher believes that less than 80% of all students graduate on time. To test this, she collects data on the proportion of students who graduated on time last year at the university.

H 0 : p ≥ 0.80 (the true proportion of students who graduate on time is 80% or higher)

H A : μ < 0.80 (the true proportion of students who graduate on time is less than 80%)

Example 4: Burger Weights

A food researcher wants to test whether or not the true mean weight of a burger at a certain restaurant is 7 ounces. To test this, he goes out and measures the weight of a random sample of 20 burgers from this restaurant.

H 0 : μ = 7 (the true mean weight is equal to 7 ounces)

H A : μ ≠ 7 (the true mean weight is not equal to 7 ounces)

Example 5: Citizen Support

A politician claims that less than 30% of citizens in a certain town support a certain law. To test this, he goes out and surveys 200 citizens on whether or not they support the law.

H 0 : p ≥ .30 (the true proportion of citizens who support the law is greater than or equal to 30%)

H A : μ < 0.30 (the true proportion of citizens who support the law is less than 30%)

Additional Resources

Introduction to Hypothesis Testing Introduction to Confidence Intervals An Explanation of P-Values and Statistical Significance

' src=

Published by Zach

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Alternative vs Null Hypothesis: Pros, Cons, Uses & Examples

busayo.longe

All research starts with a problem that needs to be solved. From this problem, hypotheses are developed to provide the researcher with a clear statement of the problem.

To understand alternative hypotheses also known as alternate hypotheses, you must first understand what the hypothesis is .

When you hear the word hypothesis it means the accurate explanations in relation to a set of facts that can be analyzed when studied, using some specific method of research.

There are primarily two types of hypothesis which are null hypothesis and alternative hypothesis.

When you think about the word “null” what should come to mind is something that can not change, what you expect is what you get, unlike alternate hypotheses which can change.

Now, the research problems or questions which could be in the form of null hypothesis or alternative hypothesis are expressed as the relationship that exists between two or more variables. The process for this states that the questions should be what expresses the relationship between two variables that can be measured.

Both null hypotheses and alternative hypotheses are used by statisticians and researchers to conduct research in various industries or fields such as mathematics, psychology, science, medicine, and technology.

We are going to discuss alternative hypotheses and null hypotheses in this post and how they work in research.

What is an Alternative Hypothesis?

Alternative hypothesis simply put is another viable option to the null hypothesis. It means looking for a substantial change or option that can allow you to reject the null hypothesis.

It is an opposing theory to a null hypothesis.

If you develop a null hypothesis, you make an informed guess on whether a thing is true or whether there is a relationship between that thing and another variable. An alternate hypothesis will always take an opposite stand against a null hypothesis. So if according to a null hypothesis something is correct to an alternate hypothesis that same thing will be incorrect.

For example, let’s assume that you develop a null hypothesis that states “I”m going to be $500 richer” the alternate hypothesis will be “I’m going to get $500 or be richer”

When you are trying to disprove a null hypothesis, that is when you test an alternate hypothesis. If there is enough data to back up the alternative hypothesis then you can dispose of the null hypothesis. 

Get Answers: What is Empirical Research Study? [Examples & Method]

What is a Null Hypothesis?

The null hypothesis is best explained as the statement showing that no relationship exists between two variables that are being considered or that two groups are not related. As we have earlier established, a hypothesis is an assumed statement that has not been proven with sufficient data that could serve as a piece of evidence. 

The null hypothesis is now the statement that a researcher or an investigator wants to disprove. The null hypothesis is capable of being tested, being verifiable, and also capable of being rejected.

For example, if you want to conduct a study that will compare the relationship between project A and project B if the study is based on the assumption that both projects are of equal standard, the assumption is referred to as the null hypothesis.

This is because the null hypothesis should be specific at all times.

Learn: Hypothesis Testing in Research: Definition, Procedure, Uses, Limitations + Examples

Advantages of the Alternative Hypothesis 

  • Alternative hypothesis gives a researcher specific clarifications on the research questions or problems .
  • It provides a study with the direction that can be used to collect data and obtain results of interest by the researcher.
  • An alternative hypothesis is always selected before commencing the studies which gives the researcher the opportunity to prove that the restatement is backed up by evidence and not just from the researcher’s ideas or values.
  • Another good thing about alternative hypotheses is that it provides the opportunity to discover new theories that a researcher can use to disprove an existing theory that may not have been backed up by evidence .
  • An alternate hypothesis is also useful to prove that there is a relationship between two selected variables and the outcomes of the conducted study are relevant.

Principles of the Alternative Hypothesis

  • Alternative hypotheses will be accepted if the amount of data that is gone is insignificant within the significance level. This means that the null hypothesis will be rejected.
  • Another principle of the alternative hypothesis is that the data gathered from random samples go through a statistical tool that analyzes the effect of the amount of data leaving the null hypothesis.
For the curious: Sampling Bias: Definition, Types + [Examples]

Purpose of the Null Hypothesis 

Here are the purposes of the null hypothesis in an experiment or study:

  • The primary purpose of a null hypothesis is to disprove an assumption.
  • Null hypotheses can help to further progress a theory in some scientific cases.
  • You can also use a null hypothesis to ascertain how consistent the outcomes of multiple studies are.

Principle of the Null Hypothesis 

Now, these are the principles of the null hypothesis:

1. The primary principle of the null hypothesis is to prove that the assumed statement is true. This is done by collecting data and analyzing in the study , what chance the collected data has in the random sample.

2. If the collected data does not meet the expectation of the null hypothesis, it is determined that the data lacks sufficient evidence to back up the null hypothesis therefore the null hypothesis statement is rejected.

Just as in the case of the alternative hypothesis the collected data in a null hypothesis is analyzed using some statistical tools that are made to measure the extent to which data left the null hypothesis.

The process will determine whether the data that left the null hypothesis is larger than a set value. If the data collected from the random sample is enough to serve as evidence to prove the null hypothesis then the null hypothesis will be accepted as true. And also defined that it has no relationship with other variables .

Learn About: Research Reports: Definition, Types + [Writing Guide]

Types of Alternative Hypothesis (Advantages of Each and When to Use)

There are four types of alternative hypotheses, and we will briefly discuss them below.

  • One-tailed directional: For one of the sampling distributions one tail, this type of alternative hypothesis focuses on the rejected part only.
  • Two-tailed directional: In an alternative hypothesis, a two-tailed directional focus on the two parts or directions that were rejected in the sampling distribution.
  • Point: Point is another alternate hypothesis. It occurs in hypothesis testing when the sample population in the alternate hypothesis has been completely defined in a distribution. If there are no known parameters, the hypothesis will serve no interest. They are, however, important to the foundation of the statistical inferences.
  • Non-directional: In an alternate hypothesis, a non-directional does not focus on the two directions of rejection. The only focus of the nondirectional alternative hypothesis is to prove that the null hypothesis is incorrect.
Read: Type I vs Type II Errors: Definition, Examples & Prevention

Difference between Null Hypothesis and Alternative Hypothesis 

We are going to look at the differences between the alternate hypothesis and the null hypothesis based on these six factors which are:

  • Mathematical expression
  • Observation
  • Acceptance criteria
  • The difference in Mathematical expression

Null hypothesis is followed by an ‘equals to’ (=) sign. While the Alternative hypothesis is followed by these three signs; 

  • The difference in how they are observed

In the null hypothesis, it is believed that the results that are observed are as a result of chance. While In the alternative hypothesis, it is believed that the observed results are the outcome of some real causes.

  • Differences in results

The result of the null hypothesis always shows that there have been no changes in statements or opinions. While the result of the alternative hypothesis shows that there have been significant changes in statements and opinions.

  • Differences in Acceptance criteria

If the p-value in a null hypothesis is greater than the significance level, then the null hypothesis is accepted.

If the p-value in an alternate hypothesis is smaller than the significance level, then the alternative hypothesis is accepted.

  • Differences in importance

The null hypothesis accepts true existing theories and also if there has been consistency in multiple experiments of similar hypotheses.

The alternative hypothesis establishes whether a relationship exists between two variables, and the result will then lead to new improved theories.

Read: T-testing: Definition, Formula & Interpretations

Examples of an Alternative Hypothesis and Null Hypothesis

Here are some examples of the alternative hypothesis:.

A researcher assumes that a bridge’s bearing capacity is over 10 tons, the researcher will then develop an hypothesis to support this study. The hypothesis will be:

For the null hypothesis H0: µ= 10 tons

For the alternate hypothesis Ha: µ>10 tons

In another study being conducted, the researcher wants to find out whether there is a noticeable difference or change in a patient’s heart arrest medicine and the patient’s heart condition.

For the alternate hypothesis: The hypothesis is that there might indeed be a relationship between the new medicine and the frequency or chances of heart arrest in a patient.

Here are the examples of the null hypothesis

The hypothesis from example 2 in the alternate hypothesis implies that the use of one specific medicine can reduce the frequency and chances of heart arrest.

For the null hypothesis: The hypothesis will be that the use of that particular medicine cannot reduce the chance and frequency of heart arrest in a patient.

An alternate hypothesis states that the random exam scores are collected from both men and women. But are the scores of the two groups (men and women) the same or are they different?

For the null hypothesis: The hypothesis will state that the calculated mean of the men’s exam score is equal to the exam score of the women.

This is represented as

H0= The null hypothesis

µ1= The calculated mean score of men

µ2= The calculated mean score of women

Read: What is Empirical Research Study? [Examples & Method]
  • Can you reject an alternative hypothesis?

It is quite inappropriate to say or report that an alternate hypothesis was rejected. It is much better to use the phrase “the alternate hypothesis was rather not supported”.

The reason behind this use of words is that only the null hypothesis is designed to be rejected in a study. The alternative hypothesis is designed to prove the null hypothesis incorrect, to introduce new facts that can disprove the null hypothesis but it is not designed to be rejected.

It can either be accepted or not supported.

  • How do you identify alternative hypotheses?

A researcher can use this formula to identify the alternate hypothesis in a study or experiment.

H0 and Ha are in contrast.

Therefore, if Ho has:

Equal to (=)

Greater than or equal to (≥)

Less than or equal to (≤)

And then Ha has:

Not equal (≠) 

Greater than (>) or less than (

Less than ( )

If in a study, α ≤ p-value, then the researcher should not reject H0.

If in a study, α > p-value, then the researcher should reject H0.

α is preconceived. The value of α is determined even before the hypothesis test is conducted. While the p-value is derived from the calculation in the data.

  • Which is better in formulating hypotheses of your study alternative or null?

The study a researcher wants to conduct will determine what hypothesis should be developed. However, the researcher should keep in mind what the purpose of the null and alternative two hypotheses are while developing the study hypothesis. So while the null hypothesis will accept existing theories that it found to be true or correct, and measure the consistency of multiple experiments, alternative hypotheses will find the relationship that exists (if any) between two phenomena and may lead to the development of a new and improved theory.

In this article, it has been clearly defined the relationship that exists between the null hypothesis and the alternative hypothesis. While the null hypothesis is always an assumption that needs to be proven with evidence for it to be accepted, the alternative hypothesis puts in all the effort to make sure the null hypothesis is disproved. 

Researchers should note that for every null hypothesis, one or more alternate hypotheses can be developed.

Logo

Connect to Formplus, Get Started Now - It's Free!

  • acceptance criteria
  • alternate hypotheses
  • alternative hypothesis
  • alternative hypothesis types
  • alternative vs null hypothesis
  • null hypothese
  • busayo.longe

Formplus

You may also like:

Extrapolation in Statistical Research: Definition, Examples, Types, Applications

In this article we’ll look at the different types and characteristics of extrapolation, plus how it contrasts to interpolation.

research question with null and alternative hypothesis example brainly

Acceptance Sampling: Meaning, Examples, When to Use

In this post, we will discuss extensively what acceptance sampling is and when it is applied.

Type I vs Type II Errors: Causes, Examples & Prevention

This article will discuss the two different types of errors in hypothesis testing and how you can prevent them from occurring in your research

Hypothesis Testing: Definition, Uses, Limitations + Examples

The process of research validation involves testing and it is in this context that we will explore hypothesis testing.

Formplus - For Seamless Data Collection

Collect data the right way with a versatile data collection tool. try formplus and transform your work productivity today..

IMAGES

  1. Research Hypothesis Generator

    research question with null and alternative hypothesis example brainly

  2. Difference between Null and Alternative Hypothesis

    research question with null and alternative hypothesis example brainly

  3. 13 Different Types of Hypothesis (2024)

    research question with null and alternative hypothesis example brainly

  4. Null Hypothesis and Alternative Hypothesis

    research question with null and alternative hypothesis example brainly

  5. Null and Alternative Hypothesis Examples

    research question with null and alternative hypothesis example brainly

  6. Null Hypothesis and Alternative Hypothesis

    research question with null and alternative hypothesis example brainly

VIDEO

  1. Null & Alternative Hypothesis |Statistical Hypothesis #hypothesis #samplingdistribution #statistics

  2. Null Hypothesis vs Alternate Hypothesis

  3. Hypothesis

  4. Part 1: Hypothesis testing (Null & Alternative hypothesis)

  5. FA II Statistics/ Chapter no 7/ Testing of hypothesis/ Example no 7.1

  6. Difference Between Null Hypothesis and Alternative Hypothesis

COMMENTS

  1. Null & Alternative Hypotheses

    When the research question asks "Does the independent variable affect the dependent variable?": The null hypothesis ( H0) answers "No, there's no effect in the population.". The alternative hypothesis ( Ha) answers "Yes, there is an effect in the population.". The null and alternative are always claims about the population.

  2. Understanding the Distinction: Null vs Alternative Hypothesis

    2. The Null Hypothesis (H0) The null hypothesis (H0) is a statement of no effect or no difference between variables. It assumes that there is no relationship or association between the variables under investigation. In other words, any observed differences or effects in the data are due to chance or random variation.

  3. Null and Alternative Hypotheses

    The null and alternative hypotheses offer competing answers to your research question. When the research question asks "Does the independent variable affect the dependent variable?", the null hypothesis (H 0) answers "No, there's no effect in the population.". On the other hand, the alternative hypothesis (H A) answers "Yes, there ...

  4. Examples of null and alternative hypotheses

    It is the opposite of your research hypothesis. The alternative hypothesis--that is, the research hypothesis--is the idea, phenomenon, observation that you want to prove. If you suspect that girls take longer to get ready for school than boys, then: Alternative: girls time > boys time. Null: girls time <= boys time.

  5. 9.1 Null and Alternative Hypotheses

    The actual test begins by considering two hypotheses.They are called the null hypothesis and the alternative hypothesis.These hypotheses contain opposing viewpoints. H 0, the —null hypothesis: a statement of no difference between sample means or proportions or no difference between a sample mean or proportion and a population mean or proportion. In other words, the difference equals 0.

  6. 9.2: Null and Alternative Hypotheses

    Review. In a hypothesis test, sample data is evaluated in order to arrive at a decision about some type of claim.If certain conditions about the sample are satisfied, then the claim can be evaluated for a population. In a hypothesis test, we: Evaluate the null hypothesis, typically denoted with \(H_{0}\).The null is not rejected unless the hypothesis test shows otherwise.

  7. 10.1

    10.1 - Setting the Hypotheses: Examples. A significance test examines whether the null hypothesis provides a plausible explanation of the data. The null hypothesis itself does not involve the data. It is a statement about a parameter (a numerical characteristic of the population). These population values might be proportions or means or ...

  8. Null and Alternative Hypotheses

    If we do not find that a relationship (or difference) exists, we fail to reject the null hypothesis (and go with it). We never say we accept the null hypothesis because it is never possible to prove something does not exist. That is why we say that we failed to reject the null hypothesis, rather than we accepted it. Del Siegle, Ph.D.

  9. Null and Alternative Hypotheses

    The actual test begins by considering two hypotheses.They are called the null hypothesis and the alternative hypothesis.These hypotheses contain opposing viewpoints. H 0: The null hypothesis: It is a statement about the population that either is believed to be true or is used to put forth an argument unless it can be shown to be incorrect beyond a reasonable doubt.

  10. Null Hypothesis: Definition, Rejecting & Examples

    When your sample contains sufficient evidence, you can reject the null and conclude that the effect is statistically significant. Statisticians often denote the null hypothesis as H 0 or H A.. Null Hypothesis H 0: No effect exists in the population.; Alternative Hypothesis H A: The effect exists in the population.; In every study or experiment, researchers assess an effect or relationship.

  11. Write a testable null and alternate hypothesis to answer your research

    Try turning over rocks or looking under leaves. 1. Write a research question about something interesting you observed. 2. Write a null and alternative hypothesis to answer your research question. a. Null Hypothesis Statement: b. Alternate Hypothesis Statement: 3. Identify the independent and dependant variables in your hypotheses.

  12. What is a null and alternative hypothesis example?

    A null and alternative hypothesis is a statement about a population parameter that is used in statistical testing. The null hypothesis, denoted by H0, represents the default assumption that there is no effect or no difference between groups.The alternative hypothesis, denoted by H1 or Ha, represents the claim or research question that we want to test.

  13. How to Write a Null and Alternative Hypothesis: A Guide with Examples

    Alternatively, researchers can change the question into a positive statement that includes a relationship that exists between the variables. In turn, this latter statement becomes the alternative hypothesis and is symbolized as H1. Hence, some of the examples of research questions and hull and alternative hypotheses are as follows: 1.

  14. How to Write a Null Hypothesis (5 Examples)

    Whenever we perform a hypothesis test, we always write a null hypothesis and an alternative hypothesis, which take the following forms: H0 (Null Hypothesis): Population parameter =, ≤, ≥ some value. HA (Alternative Hypothesis): Population parameter <, >, ≠ some value. Note that the null hypothesis always contains the equal sign.

  15. Alternative vs Null Hypothesis: Pros, Cons, Uses & Examples

    Here are some examples of the alternative hypothesis: Example 1. A researcher assumes that a bridge's bearing capacity is over 10 tons, the researcher will then develop an hypothesis to support this study. The hypothesis will be: For the null hypothesis H0: µ= 10 tons. For the alternate hypothesis Ha: µ>10 tons.

  16. potential answer to the research question. The null hypothesis and the

    There is a difference between a research topic and a research question. A research question provides a foundation for creating a testable hypothesis. For this discussion, start by generating your own research topic and associated research question. For your research question, state the null and alternative hypothesis.

  17. Alternative hypothesis in research example

    The alternate hypothesis is just an alternative to the null. For example, if your null is "I'm going to win up to $1,000" then your alternate is "I'm going to win $1,000 or more." Basically, you're looking at whether there's enough change (with the alternate hypothesis) to be able to reject the null hypothesis. Explanation:

  18. Difference between null hypothesis and alternative hypothesis ...

    An alternative hypothesis is one that states there is a statistically significant relationship between two variables. ... A null hypothesis is a hypothesis that says there is no statistical significance between the two variables. It is usually the hypothesis a researcher or experimenter will try to disprove or discredit. Step-by-step explanation:

  19. what are the difference of null and alternative hypothesis?

    amarachloereyes. Answer: the null hypothesis is a general statement that States that there is no relationship between two phenomenons under consideration while the alternative hypothesis is a statement that describes that there is a a relationship between two selected variables in a study. What is hypothesis? - 6661956.

  20. Select both a null and alternative hypothesis that ...

    In hypothesis testing, the null hypothesis (H0) represents the default assumption, while the alternative hypothesis (HA) reflects the researcher's claim or the possibility of an effect being present. In this case, the research question is likely investigating whether a proportion (denoted by p) is different from a specific value, which is 0.3.

  21. Define null and alternative hypothesis and give an example of ...

    report flag outlined. A null hypothesis is a hypothesis that says there is no statistical significance between the two variables. It is usually the hypothesis a researcher or experimenter will try to disprove or discredit. An alternative hypothesis is one that states there is a statistically significant relationship between two variables.

  22. What the null hypothesis and the research hypothesis is?

    Final answer: The null hypothesis (H0) is an initial statement suggesting no statistical significance in observed data, while the alternative hypothesis (Ha) is contrary to the null hypothesis, implying there's a meaningful difference. They are opposing statements used in statistical analysis to examine data and draw conclusions. Explanation: The null hypothesis and the research or alternative ...

  23. State a null and alternative hypothesis that could be ...

    State a null and alternative hypothesis that could be tested to answer your research question. Considering the Get the answers you need, now! ... Brainly App. Test Prep Soon. Brainly Tutor. For students. For teachers. For parents. Honor code. Textbook Solutions. Log in Join for free. profile. kaiti8741. 9 hours ago. Social Studies; High School ...