Testing Directional Research Hypotheses

Abstract

Theory, literature review, and past research results will guide the development and testing of most research questions. This paper argues that most research questions will be directional, instead of nondirectional, particularly since most researchers want to make a directional conclusion. Although many researchers incorrectly make directional conclusions after finding significance with a nondirectional test, tests of directional hypotheses are the only ones that allow directional conclusions.