a null expectation for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a null expectation for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to express that there is no anticipated outcome or belief regarding a particular situation or event. Example: "In this experiment, we have a null expectation for the results, as we are unsure of the variables involved."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

In DGC-based studies, these include multiple effects of the experimental treatments, the absence of a null expectation for the contribution of respiratory to total water loss, and problems with the use of proportions as a way of assessing the importance of respiratory water loss.

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology

The most significant problem with these studies is the complete lack of a null expectation for molecular evolutionary patterns in snakes.

BMC Genomics

I wonder whether it is not appropriate to simulate (through bootstrapping for example) a null expectation for the pattern of recurrent amino acid substitutions in the data.

Biology Direct

Row 1 shows the case for R = 0 and provides a null expectation for the effect of IGC in the absence of crossover: high LD between duplicates (see Materials and Methods), represented by a diagonal dark blue line.

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

We also fit this model for 50 randomly selected SNPs that fell within the widest confidence interval for each identified QTL to obtain a null expectation for SNPs linked with our QTL.

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

The importance of PNC for explaining patterns of morphological and ecological characteristics is increasingly recognized (Wiens et al., 2010), to the extent that it could potentially serve as a null expectation for the diversification, or lack thereof, of avian ecological characteristics.

Global Ecology and Biogeography

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

We calculated a χ2 value as a measure of the observed option bias for each task (henceforth the "option bias statistic"), from a contingency table of the number of manipulations for each option per group, using a null expectation of an equal number of manipulations for the two options calculated for each group (see Supplementary Material, Table S1).

Plosone

The significance of differences among the lines for territorial success was tested with a χ2 test, with a null expectation of an equal number of wins for each genotype.

Plosone

Individual lines were also tested for their departure from population mean success with a null expectation of an equal numbers of wins to losses.

Plosone

This shuffling simulates a null expectation of no effect of phylogeny.

AoB PLANTS

The second dataset, with a null expectation of 1 pair, is too small to assess statistical significance.> Our results show clear evidence for a clustering of horizontally transferred genes, both spatially and functionally.

Biology Direct

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing experimental designs, clearly state your "null expectation" to provide a transparent benchmark against which observed results can be evaluated. This ensures clarity in interpreting deviations from the expected outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "null expectation" to describe a hoped-for or desired result. The "null expectation" represents the outcome anticipated if there is no effect or relationship, not what you want to happen.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a null expectation for" functions as a noun phrase specifying a baseline or anticipated outcome in a given context. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It is often used to define a starting point for comparison or analysis.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

100%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a null expectation for" is a phrase used to describe a baseline or anticipated outcome, particularly in scientific and research contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct. It functions to provide a point of comparison, helping to highlight deviations or effects. It is most commonly found in scientific publications and should be used with precision to avoid confusion with desired outcomes. Alternatives include "baseline expectation" or "predicted outcome assuming no effect", depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

baseline expectation

This alternative directly substitutes "null" with "baseline", keeping the core meaning intact but focusing on the idea of a standard for comparison.

expected value under the null hypothesis

This phrase is specific to statistical testing, emphasizing the hypothetical scenario where there's no effect or relationship.

predicted outcome assuming no effect

It clarifies that the "null expectation" refers to what would happen if the factor being studied has no impact.

anticipated result without intervention

It focuses on the idea of no change or manipulation being applied, which is a common scenario in research.

reference point for comparison

This alternative emphasizes the role of the expectation as a benchmark.

theoretical baseline

Swaps 'null expectation' with 'theoretical baseline', highlighting that the expectation can be a theoretical construct for comparison.

control expectation

Replaces 'null' with 'control', suggesting a scenario used as a standard in experimental settings.

presumed result in the absence of influence

Rephrases the concept to emphasize the lack of external factors affecting the outcome.

standard of no difference

Highlights that the 'null expectation' serves as the benchmark where no significant differences are anticipated.

benchmark prediction

Substitutes with a term that directly implies a point of reference for evaluating performance or results.

FAQs

How is a "null expectation" used in scientific research?

In scientific research, a "null expectation" is the anticipated outcome if the primary factor under investigation has no effect. It serves as a baseline to compare against observed results to determine if any real effect is present.

What's the difference between a "null expectation" and a hypothesis?

A hypothesis is a testable statement about a relationship or effect, while a "null expectation" is what you'd expect to see if that hypothesis is incorrect. The "null expectation" often assumes no relationship or no effect.

Can you give me some alternatives to using the phrase "a null expectation for"?

You can use alternatives like "baseline expectation", "predicted outcome assuming no effect", or "reference point for comparison", depending on the specific context.

How do you calculate a "null expectation"?

The calculation of a "null expectation" depends on the specific scenario. It often involves statistical models or theoretical assumptions about what would occur in the absence of the effect being studied. For example, in a coin toss, the "null expectation" for heads is 50%.