Question

Please discuss the purpose of hypothesis testing. In your response, provide an example of a null hypothesis and alternative hypothesis. Why is hypothesis testing important for researchers?

Answer 1

Purpose of hypothesis is to test a statement which is a hypothetical.

For better understanding, let us consider an example as below:

Suppose there are two firm who produce same type of electric bulb. Firm A caim that the failure rate of a bulb produce in firm A is 20% higher than the bulb produce in firm B. This is an statement. A researcher can test this statement by a simple experinment. He will take some bulb (n1) from firm A & some bulb (n2) from firm B and on the basis of his experiment, he can conlude that whether the claim of firm A is true or not. For testing, this experinment he will consider following hypothesis:

Null hypotheis H0: failure rate of bulb produce by firm A & firm B is same.

Alternative hypothesis H1: failure rate of bulb produce by firm A is higher than firm B.

Hypotheis is very important for a researcher because he want to get conclusion based on the experiment & data.