PYB110 Study Guide - Final Guide: Standard Score, Standard Deviation, Null Hypothesis
24 Oct 2013
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Research hypothesis: there has been demonstrated a relationship or effect between the two variables, also known as alternative hypothesis. Null hypothesis: there is no relationship or effect demonstrated between the two variables. We need to make an educated decision based on our results as to which hypothesis is more likely to be the case. At some point, we need to determine when our data is too unusual for it to be a coincidence and thus disprove the null hypothesis. Thus, a convention exists across most scientific research that if the probability of a score occurring is less than 5% (p < . 05) then we interpret it as not occurring by chance. However, if we acknowledge that a result is significant at p < . 05 then we are also acknowledging that we have a 5% chance of being incorrect in our decision. Just because something is improbable, does not make it impossible.
