Final answer:
The null hypothesis states that the variables are independent, while the alternative hypothesis states that they are dependent. The test is two-tailed.
Step-by-step explanation:
The null hypothesis, denoted as H`o, states that the two variables (factors) are independent, meaning there are no differences between male and female respondents.
The alternative hypothesis, denoted as Ha, states that the two variables (factors) are dependent, meaning there are differences between male and female respondents. The test for independence is a two-tailed test because it examines whether the variables are either unrelated/independent or related/dependent.