Alternative Hypothesis - GCSE Psychology Definition

In GCSE Psychology, the term 'Alternative Hypothesis' refers to a statement that proposes a potential outcome or effect in a research study, suggesting that there is a significant relationship or difference between variables being tested. It is the opposite of the ‘Null Hypothesis’, which suggests that there is no effect or relationship. The Alternative Hypothesis is what a researcher aims to support; it represents the idea that the experiment or investigation will produce a meaningful result. For instance, if a student is studying whether sleep affects memory recall, the Alternative Hypothesis might state that more sleep improves memory recall, indicating a meaningful link between these two variables.