In statistics, the null hypothesis (H0) and the alternative hypothesis (H1 or Ha) are two

competing statements about a population parameter or the relationship between variables. The
null hypothesis typically represents the status quo or a statement of no effect, while the
alternative hypothesis represents the opposite or what the researcher wants to prove.

Here's how to identify the null and alternative hypotheses:

1. Define the Research Question: Clearly state the research question you want to
investigate. This will help you determine the null and alternative hypotheses.
2. Identify the Parameters or Variables: Determine the population parameter or variables
you are interested in studying. This could be anything from the mean of a population to
the difference in means between two groups.
3. Null Hypothesis (H0): The null hypothesis typically states that there is no effect, no
difference, or no relationship between variables. It represents the default position that
there is no real change or no effect of treatment. It is denoted as H0.
4. Alternative Hypothesis (H1 or Ha): The alternative hypothesis is what you want to test,
and it represents the opposite of the null hypothesis. It states that there is a significant
effect, difference, or relationship between variables. It can be one-sided (greater than, less
than) or two-sided (not equal to). It is denoted as H1 or Ha.
5. Directionality: Depending on the research question, the alternative hypothesis may be
one-tailed (directional) or two-tailed (non-directional).
o One-tailed: States a specific direction of the effect (e.g., "the mean is greater than"
or "the mean is less than").
o Two-tailed: Does not specify a direction of the effect (e.g., "the mean is not equal
to").
6. Example: Suppose you are testing whether a new drug reduces blood pressure compared
to a placebo.
o Null Hypothesis (H0): The new drug has no effect on blood pressure, or the mean
blood pressure of the drug group is equal to the mean blood pressure of the
placebo group.
o Alternative Hypothesis (H1): The new drug reduces blood pressure, or the mean
blood pressure of the drug group is different from the mean blood pressure of the
placebo group.

Remember, the choice of null and alternative hypotheses depends on the research question and
the nature of the hypothesis being tested. It's crucial to clearly define these hypotheses before
conducting any statistical analysis.