Null Hypothesis (H0): Definition, Characteristics & Pharmaceutical Example
- engacy2
- Jul 13, 2024
- 1 min read
Definition
The null hypothesis is a statement that there is no effect or no difference, and it serves as the default or baseline assumption.
It is the hypothesis that the researcher seeks to test against.
Characteristics
Assumption of No Effect: The null hypothesis typically states that any observed difference or effect is due to random chance.
Basis for Testing: It provides a basis for statistical testing and is assumed to be true until evidence suggests otherwise.
Formulation: It is often formulated to include an equality sign (e.g., =, ≤, ≥).
Pharmaceutical Example
In a clinical trial testing the efficacy of a new drug, the null hypothesis might be:
This states that the mean outcome (e.g., reduction in symptoms) for the treatment group is equal to that of the placebo group, indicating that the new drug has no effect.
