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<center>{{cquote|''[[Statistical significance|If P is low, reject the H₀!]]''}}</center>

<center>{{cquote|''[[Statistical significance|If P is low, reject the H₀!]]''}}</center>

The '''null hypothesis''' is the [[hypothesis]] that a factor of a group, variable affecting the group, or the differences between two groups is of no consequence. More generally, the null hypothesis is a default position that the tester wishes to [[falsify]] on the basis of the data. The null hypothesis typically holds that  something is not present, that there is no effect, or that there is no difference between treatment and control.<ref>[http://statistics.berkeley.edu/~stark/SticiGui/Text/gloss.htm#null_hypothesis Glossary: Null hypothesis]</ref>

The '''null hypothesis''' is the [[hypothesis]] that a factor of a group, a variable affecting the group, or the differences between two groups is of no consequence. More generally, the null hypothesis is a default position that the tester wishes to [[falsify]] on the basis of the data. The null hypothesis typically holds that  something is not present, that there is no effect, or that there is no difference between treatment and control.<ref>[http://statistics.berkeley.edu/~stark/SticiGui/Text/gloss.htm#null_hypothesis Glossary: Null hypothesis]</ref>

Many science experiments seek to disprove the null hypothesis as the first step towards proving that a meaningful, alternative scientific hypothesis is true. Medical studies, for example, that seek to prove the efficacy of a drug must first rule out the null hypothesis that taking the new drug is no better than taking the current best treatment or placebo.

Many science experiments seek to disprove the null hypothesis as the first step towards proving that a meaningful, alternative scientific hypothesis is true. Medical studies, for example, that seek to prove the efficacy of a drug must first rule out the null hypothesis that taking the new drug is no better than taking the current best treatment or placebo.