Course: Research Methods / Statistics
An alternative hypothesis is a statement that suggests a potential outcome that the researcher is testing for in a study.
Exploring the Alternative Hypothesis
Picture this: you’re a detective trying to solve a mystery. You’ve got a theory about who did it. In the world of research, we’d call this theory an “alternative hypothesis.” It’s what you think might be true and what you’re setting out to prove or disprove with your investigation.
An alternative hypothesis always comes with a null hypothesis, which is the theory that there is no relationship or effect in the population. The alternative hypothesis, on the other hand, predicts a relationship or effect.
Alternative Hypothesis in Criminal Justice
Let’s say a criminal justice researcher is studying the impact of a new rehabilitation program on reducing recidivism rates. The null hypothesis might state that the new program has no effect on recidivism rates. The alternative hypothesis, however, would predict that the program does have an effect.
The researcher would collect and analyze data to test this. If the data shows that participants in the new program have lower recidivism rates, then the researcher could reject the null hypothesis and accept the alternative.
A Social Work Example
In a social work context, suppose a researcher wants to know if a new family intervention program reduces cases of child neglect. The null hypothesis would state that the program has no effect on child neglect cases.
The research hypothesis would be that the program does have an effect in reducing child neglect cases. The researcher would then set out to gather data to test this hypothesis.
A Political Science Example
In political science, consider a researcher studying the effect of political ads on voter turnout. The null hypothesis could state that political ads have no effect on voter turnout.
The alternative hypothesis, however, would predict that these ads do have an effect on turnout. The researcher would then collect data—perhaps by surveying voters or analyzing turnout rates—to test this alternative hypothesis.
The Final Word
The alternative hypothesis is like a hunch in a research investigation. It’s the educated guess that researchers make about what they expect to find. Whether in criminal justice, social work, or political science, it’s a fundamental part of the research process, guiding the direction of the study and defining what the researcher is setting out to prove. It’s not just about having a hunch but also putting that hunch to the test, using rigorous research methods to see if it holds up. And that’s what makes social research both a science and an adventure.