Is a research hypothesis that states there is no relationship between the study variables considered true or false?

The statement that a research hypothesis which claims there is no relationship between study variables is considered false is correct because, in the context of hypothesis testing, such a hypothesis is typically referred to as the null hypothesis. The null hypothesis asserts that there is no effect or no difference in an experiment or study, serving as a baseline for comparison.

When researchers conduct a study, they gather data to test this null hypothesis against an alternative hypothesis, which posits that there is a relationship or an effect. The determination of whether the null hypothesis is accepted or rejected hinges on the statistical analysis of the collected data. If the data shows sufficient evidence against the null hypothesis, it might be rejected, implying that a relationship likely exists. However, until evidence is presented, the null hypothesis is not assumed to be true or false; it simply represents a statement of default position that researchers seek to investigate.

Understanding this concept is vital in EBP as it underlines the importance of rigorous evidence evaluation in drawing conclusions about relationships between variables. Therefore, the idea that the hypothesis asserting no relationship is considered false misunderstands the role of the null hypothesis in research methodology.