Which statement best describes the effects of a null hypothesis when results of an experiment indicate significant data?

The null hypothesis serves as a foundational concept in hypothesis testing. It posits that there is no effect or no difference in the context of the study. When experimental results yield significant data—suggesting that the observed effect is unlikely to have occurred by chance—the appropriate action is to reject the null hypothesis. This rejection indicates that the evidence from the experiment supports the alternative hypothesis, which proposes that there is an actual effect or difference present.

Rejecting the null hypothesis does not confirm a definitive truth about the alternative hypothesis, but it does suggest that the alternative hypothesis may be more plausible based on the experimental evidence gathered. Thus, the statement that best captures the relationship between significant experimental results and the null hypothesis is that the null hypothesis is rejected based on the data obtained in the experiment. This process is a crucial part of scientific inquiry, allowing researchers to modify their understanding of a phenomenon based on empirical evidence.