Final answer:
The question deals with the research hypothesis related to femininity and facial contrast in social perceptions, fitting within the realm of Social Studies at a college level.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question is related to a research hypothesis about perceptions of femininity based on the contrast between lip color and skin tone. In hypothesis testing, the null hypothesis usually states that there is no effect or no difference, while the alternative hypothesis proposes what the researcher believes to be true or is trying to support with evidence. In this case, the null hypothesis would likely state that there is no preference for higher contrast between lip color and skin tone as an indicator of femininity, whereas the alternative hypothesis would suggest that there is such a preference. This fits within the scope of Social Studies, as it involves the understanding of social perceptions and beauty standards. The hypothesis testing process is also deeply rooted in statistical analysis, an important part of social science research.