Alternative Hypothesis

• Alternative hypothesis is what is trying to be supported

  It will be tested in a research project
• The IV(s) will have significant effects on the DV
• There will be either significant differences in the data from the various experimental conditions or there will be a significant relationship between 2 variables
• A hypothesis can only be supported is can't be proven

  If your prediction is confirmed by the results than the hypothesis has been supported

  if your results don't confirm the hypothesis the it has not been supported, it's probably wrong
• Examples - There will be a significant difference between the IQs of women who eat fish and women who eat cheesy Wotsits

  There will be a significant relationship between number of doughnuts eaten and weight
• Directional (one-tailed)- More specific - predicts the expected direction of the outcome
• Non-directional (two-tailed) - More vague - doesn't state what direction the results will take