UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

A non-directional hypothesis asserts that there is a difference or relationship between variables but refrains from predicting whether it will be positive or negative, higher or lower. It is tested using two-tailed procedures because extreme outcomes in either direction can lead to rejection of the null hypothesis. Researchers use such hypotheses when prior theory or evidence is insufficient to forecast the direction confidently. Therefore, a hypothesis that only states that a difference exists is called a non-directional hypothesis.

Option A:
Non-directional hypotheses are often worded as “there is a significant difference between” or “there is a significant relationship between” without specifying which group will perform better. This neutrality allows the data to reveal the direction while still setting up a testable claim. These features correspond closely to the description in the stem.

Option B:
The null hypothesis typically proposes that no significant difference or relationship exists in the population. It functions as the default statement to be tested against, not as an assertion that some unspecified difference exists. Hence, null hypothesis is not the correct term here.

Option C:
A directional hypothesis, in contrast, predicts the specific direction of the effect, such as “Group A will score higher than Group B.” Because the stem explicitly says that direction is not specified, directional hypothesis cannot complete the blank.

Option D:
An operational hypothesis indicates testable predictions using operationally defined variables but may be either directional or non-directional. The stem is specifically focused on absence of direction, so operational hypothesis is too general to be the best answer.

A non-directional hypothesis asserts that two groups will differ or that a relationship exists but does not indicate the expected direction of the difference. It leaves open whether one group will score higher or lower than the other. In statistical testing, this type of hypothesis is usually examined with a two-tailed test because deviations in either direction are considered. Therefore, the form described in the stem is a non-directional hypothesis.

Option A:
A causal hypothesis specifically suggests cause–effect relations rather than merely any difference, and may or may not be directional, so it does not exactly capture the idea of leaving direction unspecified.

Option B:
A non-directional hypothesis is appropriate when theory or prior research is insufficient to predict which group will outperform the other, but evidence suggests that some difference is likely. This aligns with the stem, which notes that difference is predicted without stating which group is superior, making this option correct.

Option C:
A descriptive statement outlines characteristics of a single group or situation without comparing groups, so it is not about predicting differences at all. Hence, it cannot complete the stem.

Option D:
The null hypothesis states that there is no significant difference between groups, directly contradicting the assumption of a difference expressed in the stem. Thus, null is not the correct completion.