What does the alternative hypothesis state?

What does the alternative hypothesis state?

• A. There is no difference
• B. Differences are due to chance alone
• C. Observed differences are not due to chance
• D. The sample is biased

Answer: (C)

The alternative hypothesis claims there is a real difference or effect in the population, not just random variation. It says that the observed differences reflect something real, not chance. That’s why the statement that “observed differences are not due to chance” best captures the alternative hypothesis. The other ideas describe no difference (the null hypothesis), differences caused by random sampling variation (what we’d expect under the null), or a data-quality issue about bias, none of which state a real effect in the population.

The alternative hypothesis claims there is a real difference or effect in the population, not just random variation. It says that the observed differences reflect something real, not chance. That’s why the statement that “observed differences are not due to chance” best captures the alternative hypothesis. The other ideas describe no difference (the null hypothesis), differences caused by random sampling variation (what we’d expect under the null), or a data-quality issue about bias, none of which state a real effect in the population.