In statistics, a hypothesis is a specific statement or assumption about a population parameter (such as the mean, proportion, or variance) that can be tested using sample data.

It serves as the foundation for statistical testing and helps researchers make inferences about a population.

Key points:

• A hypothesis is a claim or assumption about the population.
• It is tested using sample evidence.
• There are usually two types:
  • Null hypothesis (H₀): Assumes no effect or no difference.
  • Alternative hypothesis (H₁): Suggests there is an effect or difference.

🔹 Example:

• Claim: "The average height of students in a class is 165 cm."
• Here, the hypothesis is about the population mean (165 cm).