Healthcare Research-Understanding Null/ Alternative Hypothesis, controls and making a career in science
Format
Online
Course
Price
Free
About The Course
The null hypothesis is a typical statistical theory which suggests that no statistical relationship and significance exists in a set of given, single, observed variables, between two sets of observed data and measured phenomena.
For instance, “There is no relationship between a family history of depression and the probability that a person will attempt suicide. “Null and alternative hypotheses are used in statistical hypothesis testing.
The null hypothesis of a test always predicts no effect or no relationship between variables, while the alternative hypothesis states your research prediction of an effect or relationship. The complement of the null hypothesis is called the alternative hypothesis.
If you always saw red tulips, it is not proof that no other colours exist. However, seeing a single tulip that was not red would immediately prove that the statement, “All tulips are red” is false. Therefore, statistics tests the null hypothesis. It is also why the alternative hypothesis cannot be tested directly.