Null hypothesis: what is it?

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Scientists use hypotheses to explain observations and make predictions that can be tested through experimentation. The null hypothesis is the belief that there will be no effect, and alternative hypotheses are contradictory possibilities. A good hypothesis is simple, explains all aspects of the observation, and can be tested. The null hypothesis is rejected if there is a significant difference from the observed group. A rejected null hypothesis is a significant result in scientific experiments.

In most scientific experiments, it is difficult or impossible to prove that something is true. Instead, many scientists speculate about what they think will happen. Hypotheses can be two or more contradictory possibilities, only one can be true, and exhaustive, covering all possible outcomes. The hypothesis that is believed to be true is called the null hypothesis and the other hypotheses are called alternative hypotheses.

With a hypothesis, a scientist is trying to explain an event or observation based on current information. Using the hypothesis, predictions can be made and then tested. A good hypothesis is one that explains all aspects of the observation, is the simplest possible explanation, can be expressed in such a way that predictions can be made about it, and finally, can be tested through experimentation.

Whether this hypothesis is held to be true, even temporarily, is what is tested in the experiments. He often claims that there will not be a change or effect due to scientific experimentation. During the experiment, the scientist tries to reject or not reject this hypothesis. By rejecting it, it follows that one of the alternative hypotheses is correct, or more correct than the null hypothesis.

It is nearly impossible to prove or accept anything in science. Instead, the hypotheses are rejected or have not been rejected. For example, a null hypothesis might be that a particular drug will have no effect on those people it is given to. If an effect is observed within the drugged group, the null hypothesis is rejected in favor of an alternative hypothesis. If no effect appears to occur in the drugged group, then it is not rejected and further testing is usually needed.

In statistics, the null hypothesis is viewed as the hypothesis that does not have significant statistical differences. In other words, it is a statement of statistical equality. It does not have to match a value exactly, but the hypothesis and the observed sample must be similar, not different, enough to reject the hypothesis. If the null hypothesis is rejected, it means that it is statistically significantly different from the observed group and this difference is not due to chance.

When a null hypothesis is not rejected, it is seen as statistically similar. This similarity is often attributed to random sampling error, meaning that the amount of difference is due to chance. If it is rejected, it is not a failure on the part of the experimenter. In reality, most researchers and scientists have little or no expectations that the hypothesis is true. A rejected null hypothesis is a significant result in scientific experiments.




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