What Is a Null Hypothesis?

A hypothesis is a speculation or theory based on insufficient evidence that lends itself to further
testing and experimentation. With further testing, a hypothesis can usually be proven true or
false. Let's look at an example. Little Susie speculates, or hypothesizes, that the flowers she
waters with club soda will grow faster than flowers she waters with plain water. She waters each
plant daily for a month (experiment) and proves her hypothesis true!

A null hypothesis is a hypothesis that says there is no statistical significance between the two
variables in the hypothesis. It is the hypothesis that the researcher is trying to disprove. In the
example, Susie's null hypothesis would be something like this: There is no statistically
significant relationship between the type of water I feed the flowers and growth of the flowers. A
researcher is challenged by the null hypothesis and usually wants to disprove it, to demonstrate
that there is a statistically-significant relationship between the two variables in the hypothesis.

What Is an Alternative Hypothesis?

An alternative hypothesis simply is the inverse, or opposite, of the null hypothesis. So, if we
continue with the above example, the alternative hypothesis would be that there IS indeed a
statistically-significant relationship between what type of water the flower plant is fed and
growth. More specifically, here would be the null and alternative hypotheses for Susie's study:

Null: If one plant is fed club soda for one month and another plant is fed plain water, there will
be no difference in growth between the two plants.

Alternative: If one plant is fed club soda for one month and another plant is fed plain water, the
plant that is fed club soda will grow better than the plant that is fed plain water.

Examples
Example 1:

Null Hypothesis: The Earth is flat.

….

eneration of the hypothesis is the beginning of a scientific process. It refers to a supposition,

based on reasoning and evidence. The researcher examines it through observations and
experiments, which then provides facts and forecast possible outcomes. The hypothesis can be
inductive or deductive, simple or complex, null or alternative. While the null hypothesis is the
hypothesis, which is to be actually tested, whereas alternative hypothesis gives an alternative to
the null hypothesis.
Null hypothesis implies a statement that expects no difference or effect. On the contrary, an
alternative hypothesis is one that expects some difference or effect. Null hypothesis This article
excerpt shed light on the fundamental differences between null and alternative hypothesis.

Content: Null Hypothesis Vs Alternative Hypothesis

1. Comparison Chart
2. Definition
3. Key Differences
4. Conclusion

Comparison Chart
Basis for
Null Hypothesis Alternative Hypothesis
Comparison

A null hypothesis is a statement, in An alternative hypothesis is statement in which

Meaning which there is no relationship there is some statistical significance between
between two variables. two measured phenomenon.

Represents No observed effect Some observed effect

It is what the researcher tries to

What is it? It is what the researcher tries to prove.
disprove.

Acceptance No changes in opinions or actions Changes in opinions or actions

Testing Indirect and implicit Direct and explicit

Observations Result of chance Result of real effect

Denoted by H-zero H-one

Mathematical
Equal sign Unequal sign
formulation

…………

Definition of Null Hypothesis

A null hypothesis is a statistical hypothesis in which there is no significant difference exist between the
set of variables. It is the original or default statement, with no effect, often represented by H0 (H-zero).
It is always the hypothesis that is tested. It denotes the certain value of population parameter such as µ,
s, p. A null hypothesis can be rejected, but it cannot be accepted just on the basis of a single test.
Definition of Alternative Hypothesis

A statistical hypothesis used in hypothesis testing, which states that there is a significant difference
between the set of variables. It is often referred to as the hypothesis other than the null hypothesis,
often denoted by H1 (H-one). It is what the researcher seeks to prove in an indirect way, by using the
test. It refers to a certain value of sample statistic, e.g., x¯, s, p

The acceptance of alternative hypothesis depends on the rejection of the null hypothesis i.e. until and
unless null hypothesis is rejected, an alternative hypothesis cannot be accepted.

Key Differences Between Null and Alternative Hypothesis

The important points of differences between null and alternative hypothesis are explained as under:

1. A null hypothesis is a statement, in which there is no relationship between two variables. An

alternative hypothesis is a statement; that is simply the inverse of the null hypothesis, i.e. there is some
statistical significance between two measured phenomenon.

2. A null hypothesis is what, the researcher tries to disprove whereas an alternative hypothesis is
what the researcher wants to prove.

3. A null hypothesis represents, no observed effect whereas an alternative hypothesis reflects,

some observed effect.

4. If the null hypothesis is accepted, no changes will be made in the opinions or actions.
Conversely, if the alternative hypothesis is accepted, it will result in the changes in the opinions or
actions.

5. As null hypothesis refers to population parameter, the testing is indirect and implicit. On the
other hand, the alternative hypothesis indicates sample statistic, wherein, the testing is direct and
explicit.

6. A null hypothesis is labelled as H0 (H-zero) while an alternative hypothesis is represented by H1

(H-one).

7. The mathematical formulation of a null hypothesis is an equal sign but for an alternative
hypothesis is not equal to sign.

8. In null hypothesis, the observations are the outcome of chance whereas, in the case of the
alternative hypothesis, the observations are an outcome of real effect.

Conclusion

There are two outcomes of a statistical test, i.e. first, a null hypothesis is rejected and alternative
hypothesis is accepted, second, null hypothesis is accepted, on the basis of the evidence. In simple
terms, a null hypothesis is just opposite of alternative hypothesis.
…………….

About the null and alternative hypotheses

Learn more about Minitab 18

The null and alternative hypotheses are two mutually exclusive statements about a population. A
hypothesis test uses sample data to determine whether to reject the null hypothesis.

Null hypothesis (H0)

The null hypothesis states that a population parameter (such as the mean, the standard deviation, and
so on) is equal to a hypothesized value. The null hypothesis is often an initial claim that is based on
previous analyses or specialized knowledge.

Alternative Hypothesis (H1)

The alternative hypothesis states that a population parameter is smaller, greater, or different than the
hypothesized value in the null hypothesis. The alternative hypothesis is what you might believe to be
true or hope to prove true.

One-sided and two-sided hypotheses

The alternative hypothesis can be either one-sided or two sided.

Two-sided

Use a two-sided alternative hypothesis (also known as a nondirectional hypothesis) to determine

whether the population parameter is either greater than or less than the hypothesized value. A two-
sided test can detect when the population parameter differs in either direction, but has less power than
a one-sided test.

One-sided

Use a one-sided alternative hypothesis (also known as a directional hypothesis) to determine whether
the population parameter differs from the hypothesized value in a specific direction. You can specify the
direction to be either greater than or less than the hypothesized value. A one-sided test has greater
power than a two-sided test, but it cannot detect whether the population parameter differs in the
opposite direction………….
Null hypothesis and Alternative Hypothesis

A hypothesis is an approximate explanation that relates to the set of facts that can be tested by
certain further investigations. There are basically two types, namely, null hypothesis and
alternative hypothesis. A research generally starts with a problem. Next, these hypotheses
provide the researcher with some specific restatements and clarifications of the research
problem.

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The criteria of the research problem in the form of null hypothesis and alternative hypothesis
should be expressed as a relationship between two or more variables. The criteria is that the
statements should be the one that expresses the relationship between the two or more measurable
variables. The null hypothesis and alternative hypothesis should carry clear implications for
testing and stating relations.

The major differences between the null hypothesis and alternative hypothesis and the research
problems are that the research problems are simple questions that cannot be tested. These two
hypotheses can be tested, though.

The null hypothesis and alternative hypothesis are required to be fragmented properly before the
data collection and interpretation phase in the research. Well fragmented hypotheses indicate that
the researcher has adequate knowledge in that particular area and is thus able to take the
investigation further because they can use a much more systematic system. It gives direction to
the researcher on his/her collection and interpretation of data.

The null hypothesis and alternative hypothesis are useful only if they state the expected
relationship between the variables or if they are consistent with the existing body of knowledge.
They should be expressed as simply and concisely as possible. They are useful if they have
explanatory power.

The purpose and importance of the null hypothesis and alternative hypothesis are that they
provide an approximate description of the phenomena. The purpose is to provide the researcher
or an investigator with a relational statement that is directly tested in a research study. The
purpose is to provide the framework for reporting the inferences of the study. The purpose is to
behave as a working instrument of the theory. The purpose is to prove whether or not the test is
supported, which is separated from the investigator’s own values and decisions. They also
provide direction to the research.

The null hypothesis is generally denoted as H0. It states the exact opposite of what an
investigator or an experimenter predicts or expects. It basically defines the statement which
states that there is no exact or actual relationship between the variables.
The alternative hypothesis is generally denoted as H1. It makes a statement that suggests or
advises a potential result or an outcome that an investigator or the researcher may expect. It has
been categorized into two categories: directional alternative hypothesis and non directional
alternative hypothesis.

The directional hypothesis is a kind that explains the direction of the expected findings.
Sometimes this type of alternative hypothesis is developed to examine the relationship among
the variables rather than a comparison between the groups.

The non directional hypothesis is a kind that has no definite direction of the expected findings
being specified.

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