What does an alternative hypothesis suggest?

An alternative hypothesis suggests that there is an effect or a difference between groups or conditions being studied. In hypothesis testing, it represents the idea that the observed results are not due to chance alone and indicates some form of relationship or impact. For example, if researchers are testing a new treatment, the alternative hypothesis would state that the treatment leads to different outcomes compared to a control or existing treatment.

The alternative hypothesis plays a crucial role in statistical analysis, guiding the research and informing the significance of the findings. If data collected supports the alternative hypothesis, it typically leads researchers to reject the null hypothesis, which posits that there is no effect or difference. Understanding the alternative hypothesis is essential for interpreting research results and drawing meaningful conclusions from statistical analyses.