Page 122 - [Uma_Sekaran]_Research_methods_for_business__a_sk(BookZZ.org)

106 THE RESEARCH PROCESS

research investigation. This is one more reason why the theoretical framework
should be grounded on sound, defendable logic to start with. Otherwise, other
researchers are likely to refute and postulate other defensible explanations
through different alternative hypotheses.
The null hypothesis in respect of group differences stated in our Example 5.18
would be:
H 0 : µ M = µ W
or
H 0 : µ M – µ W = 0

where H 0 represents the null hypothesis, µ M is the mean motivational level of the
men, and µ W is the mean motivational level of the women.

The alternate for the above example would statistically be set as follows:

H A : µ M < µ W
which is the same as

H A : µ W > µ M
where H A represents the alternate hypothesis and µ M and µ W are the mean moti-
vation levels of men and women, respectively. For the nondirectional hypoth-
esis of mean group differences in work ethic values in Example 5.20, the null
hypothesis would be:

H 0 : µ AM = µ AS
or
H 0 : µ AM – µ AS = 0

where H 0 represents the null hypothesis, µ AM is the mean work ethic value of
Americans and µ AS is the mean work ethic value of Asians.

The alternate hypothesis for the above example would statistically be set as:

H A : µ AM ≠µ AS
where H A represents the alternate hypothesis and µ AM and µ AS are the mean
work ethic values of Americans and Asians, respectively.

The null hypothesis for the relationship between the two variables in Example
5.17 would be
H 0 : There is no relationship between stress experienced
on the job and the job satisfaction of employees.

This would be statistically expressed by
H 0 : ρ = 0