alternative
Definition
In hypothesis testing, the alternative hypothesis represents what we believe to be true if we reject the null hypothesis. It states our belief about population parameters before conducting any statistical analysis.
Analogy
Imagine you are trying out different ice cream flavors at an ice cream parlor. The alternative hypothesis would be your preference for a specific flavor over others. For example, if vanilla is your favorite flavor and you're trying different samples to see if they taste better than vanilla, then vanilla being > would represent your alternative hypothesis.
Related terms
Null Hypothesis: A statement or assumption that we want to test using statistical analysis.
Hypothesis Testing: The process of making inferences about population parameters based on sample data.
Type I Error: Rejecting the null hypothesis when it is actually true.
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