Alternative hypothesis is a statement that proposes a possible explanation for an observed phenomenon. It is the opposite of the null hypothesis, which states that there is no relationship between two measured phenomena. The alternative hypothesis is often used in scientific research and statistical testing to determine the likelihood that a given result is due to chance.
In a scientific experiment, the alternative hypothesis is used to test the validity of the null hypothesis. For example, if the null hypothesis states that there is no difference between two groups, the alternative hypothesis would state that there is a difference between the two groups. In this case, the researcher would conduct a statistical test to determine if the difference between the two groups is statistically significant or if it could be due to chance.
The alternative hypothesis is also used in statistical tests to determine the probability that a given result is due to chance. For example, if a researcher is testing the relationship between two variables, they would use the alternative hypothesis to determine the probability that the observed result is due to chance.
In addition to scientific research and statistical testing, the alternative hypothesis is also used in economics and finance. For example, if an investor is trying to determine the likelihood of a certain stock performing better than the market, they would use the alternative hypothesis to determine the probability that the stock will outperform the market.
In conclusion, alternative hypothesis is a statement that proposes a possible explanation for an observed phenomenon. It is used in scientific research, statistical testing, and economics and finance to determine the likelihood that a given result is due to chance.