In the context of hypothesis testing in sociology, what does the alternative hypothesis suggest about the relationship between social variables?

In hypothesis testing, the alternative hypothesis is a statement that suggests there is a significant relationship between social variables. This means that the research is proposing that changes in one social factor, like education level, can affect another factor, such as income. For example, if a study examines whether higher education leads to higher income, the alternative hypothesis would suggest that as education increases, income also increases. This contrasts with the null hypothesis, which states that there is no relationship between the two variables. By testing the alternative hypothesis, researchers aim to find evidence that supports their idea of a connection in social behavior or outcomes.