One-Tailed Test

A significance test can be described as either directional or nondirectional. Any test capable of the specification of a direction is a one-tailed test when the specification is used. Notably, these tests are often associated with the use of a hypothesis to test some description of an expected relationship. A nondirectional test, which is usually part of a research question, employs what is described as a two-tailed test. This entry introduces directional and nondirectional testing, discusses the difference between a hypothesis and research question, and explores some of the circumstances under which one might use a one-tailed test, paying specific attention to the context of communication research.

Directional and Nondirectional Testing

Suppose the researcher wants to examine whether males or females exhibit differences in the level of ...

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