To identify the null and alternative hypothesis in a hypothesis test, you need to define them based on the research question or the statement being tested.
1. Null Hypothesis ( H_0 ): The null hypothesis represents the default assumption or the status quo. It is denoted by H_0 and usually states that there is no effect, no difference, or no relationship. It is what we aim to test against in the hypothesis test.
2. Alternative Hypothesis ( H_A or H_1 ): The alternative hypothesis represents what the researchers are trying to find evidence for. It is denoted by H_A or H_1 and states that there is an effect, a difference, or a relationship.
For example, if we are looking at the average test scores of two groups, the null and alternative hypotheses could be:
- Null Hypothesis ( H_0 ): The average test scores of the two groups are equal.
- Alternative Hypothesis ( H_A ): The average test scores of the two groups are not equal.
It's important to clearly define the null and alternative hypotheses before conducting a hypothesis test to ensure a structured and meaningful analysis.
\textbf{Answer:}
The null hypothesis ( H_0 ) represents the default assumption (no effect, no difference, no relationship), while the alternative hypothesis ( H_A or H_1 ) represents what the researchers are trying to find evidence for.