Tests of statistical significance - one tailed and two tailed

When one think of tests of statistical significance, hypotheses must be considered first. With non-directional null hypotheses, you are only suggesting that there will be a difference in mean score results. Which of the means will be higher is not speculated upon. In the case of a non-directional null hypothesis, a two-tailed test of significance is used.

If there is a prediction of which mean will be higher and which will be lower, then a one-tailed test of significance is used. When you state a directional hypothesis, a one-tailed test of significance is used.

Non-directional null hypothesis = Two-tailed test of significance

Directional null hypothesis = One-tailed test of significance

Return from tests of statistical significance to dissertation research questions and hypotheses.