When a hypothesis is not confirmed in an empirical investigation, one concludes that
A) the study was not conducted properly.
B) the theory from which the hypothesis was derived is false.
C) the null hypothesis of the study is the true hypothesis.
D) None of these is true.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The conclusion that a hypothesis is not confirmed does not necessarily imply that the study was conducted improperly, that the underlying theory is false, or that the null hypothesis is true. It may simply indicate that the specific hypothesis tested does not hold under the conditions of the study. Other factors, such as limitations in the research design, measurement errors, or the influence of uncontrolled variables, could also contribute to the failure to confirm the hypothesis.

When a Hypothesis Is Not Confirmed in an Empirical Investigation