Statistics
Alternative Hypothesis
The statement predicting that an effect, relationship, or difference exists in the population being studied.
What is Alternative Hypothesis?
The alternative hypothesis is the formal claim that the researcher suspects is true, acting as the counterpoint to the null hypothesis. It posits that the independent variable does have an effect on the dependent variable, or that a non-zero correlation exists.
Why Alternative Hypothesis Matters
It defines the scientific claim that the study is designed to find evidence for, framing the direction and purpose of the statistical test.
Example
In a drug trial, the alternative hypothesis states that the new drug significantly lowers cholesterol compared to the placebo.
Common Mistakes
- Assuming that failing to reject the null hypothesis definitively disproves the alternative hypothesis, when it may just mean the study lacked statistical power.
- Phasing the alternative hypothesis after looking at the data, which violates the principles of deductive hypothesis testing.