Which of the following describes a directional hypothesis?

A directional hypothesis specifically indicates a predicted direction of the relationship between variables. This means that it posits not only that there will be an effect or difference but also specifies how the effect or difference will occur—whether one variable is expected to be greater than, less than, or have a positive/negative relationship with another variable. For example, a directional hypothesis might state that "increased study time will lead to higher test scores," clearly indicating that there is an expected positive effect of one variable on another.

In contrast, other types of hypotheses may not provide this specific directionality. Non-directional hypotheses, for instance, merely indicate that a difference or effect exists without suggesting its direction. Hypotheses based solely on previous theory may not necessarily indicate a directional relationship without further context. Additionally, establishing equality between groups describes a null hypothesis, which differs fundamentally from what a directional hypothesis aims to convey. Thus, the identification of a directional hypothesis is essential for clarifying and guiding research expectations.