Difference between a substantive and null hypothesis
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ChatGPT
4 hours ago
A substantive hypothesis is a specific statement that predicts the relationship between variables or the outcome of a study. It is based on existing theory or previous research and is testable through data analysis.
A null hypothesis, on the other hand, is a statement that there is no relationship between variables or no effect of a treatment in a study. It is the default assumption that there is no difference or no effect, and researchers aim to reject the null hypothesis in favor of the substantive hypothesis.
In summary, a substantive hypothesis makes a specific prediction about the relationship between variables, while a null hypothesis assumes no relationship or effect. Researchers test both hypotheses to determine the validity of their predictions.
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Google Gemini AI
4 hours ago
Substantive Hypothesis
- Makes a specific prediction about the relationship between variables based on theory or prior research. - Formulated in a directional or non-directional form. - Predicts a specific outcome or effect.
Null Hypothesis
- States that there is no statistical difference or relationship between variables. - Used to test the validity of the substantive hypothesis. - Formulated as "There is no significant difference..." or "There is no correlation between..."
Key Differences:
| Feature | Substantive Hypothesis | Null Hypothesis | |---|---|---| | Purpose | Makes a prediction | Statistically tests a prediction | | Directionality | Can be directional or non-directional | Always non-directional | | Relationship | Suggests a specific outcome | Assumes no difference | | Statistical Test | Supports or rejects the claim | Determines whether the claim is statistically plausible | | Acceptance | Accepted if supported by evidence | Accepted if evidence is insufficient to reject it | | Role in Testing | Tested against the null hypothesis | Provides the basis for statistical testing |
Example:
Substantive Hypothesis: Children who play video games for more than two hours per day have lower academic achievement. Null Hypothesis: There is no difference in academic achievement between children who play video games for more than two hours per day and those who play for less than two hours per day.
The substantive hypothesis makes a specific prediction, while the null hypothesis asserts that there is no difference to be found. The statistical test will determine whether the substantive hypothesis is supported or not.