Null hypothesis

Null hypothesis

The null hypothesis, H₀, is an essential part of any research design, and is always tested, even indirectly. The simplistic definition of the null is as the opposite of the alternative hypothesis, H₁, although the principle is a little more complex than that. The null hypothesis is a hypothesis which the researcher tries to disprove, reject or nullify. The 'null' often refers to the common view of something, while the alternative hypothesis is what the researcher really thinks is the cause of a phenomenon. An experiment conclusion always refers to the null, rejecting or accepting H₀ rather than H₁.