Cited by 269Meta-analysis and systematic reviewsStatistical Methods and Bayesian InferenceProbability and Statistical Research

When should we use one-tailed hypothesis testing?

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Ruxton, Graeme D., Neuhäuser, Markus·2010·Methods in Ecology and Evolution

Abstract

Summary: 1. Although one‐tailed hypothesis tests are commonly used, clear justification for why this approach is used is often missing from published papers. 2. Here we suggest explicit questions authors should ask of themselves when deciding whether or not to adopt one‐tailed tests. 3. First, we suggest that authors should only use a one‐tailed test if they can explain why they are more interested in an effect in one direction and not the other. 4. We suggest a further requirement that adoption of one‐tailed testing requires an explanation why the authors would treat a large observed difference in the unexpected direction no differently from a difference in the expected direction that was not strong enough to justify rejection of the null hypothesis. 5. These justifications should be included in published works that use one‐tailed tests, allowing editors, reviewers and readers the ability to evaluate the appropriateness of the adoption of one‐tailed testing. 6. We feel that adherence to our suggestions will allow authors to use one‐tailed tests more appropriately, and readers to form their own opinion about such appropriateness when one‐tailed tests are used.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.2041-210x.2010.00014.x

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  • The use of a one-sided test requires justification of why a treatment effect is only of interest when it is in a defined direction and why they would treat a large effect in the unexpected direction no differently from a nonsignificant difference.

    “The use of a one-sided test requires justification of why a treatment effect is only of interest when it is in a defined direction and why they would treat a large effect in the unexpected direction no differently from a nonsignificant difference [43].”

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Authors
Ruxton, G. D., & Neuhäuser, M.
Affiliations
  • University of Glasgow (GB)
  • Koblenz University of Applied Sciences (DE)
Corresponding author
Ruxton, Graeme D.
Venue
Methods in Ecology and Evolution
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2010-05-04
Volume
1
Issue
2
Pages
114-117
ISSN
2041-210X (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1563749973
Cited by
269
References
11
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 31 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 59 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 6
FWCI
7.66
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Methods in Ecology and Evolution (publishedVersion)
  • ENLIGHTEN (Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling Islam) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty › Meta-analysis and systematic reviews
  • Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Statistical Methods and Bayesian Inference
  • Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Probability and Statistical Research
Keywords
null hypothesis significance testing, statistical reporting guidelines, research reproducibility

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