SCHOOL OF NURSING SCIENCE AND RESEARCH

(SHARDA UNIVERSITY)

ASSIGNMENT
ON
Hypothesis

SUBMITTED ON: 11th JUNE 2020

SUBMITTED TO:- SUBMITTED BY:-

Professor.Sreeraja Kumar Ms. Samjhana Neupane
HOD Msc. Nursing 1st year
Community Health Nursing Department SNSR

HYPOTHESIS:
Introduction:
 The Etymological meaning, according to Kumar Singh (2006), of hypothesis is from two
Greek roots: Hypo + thesis = Hypothesis
 Hypo means: tentative or subject to verification
 composition of two or more variables which is to be verified
 ‘Thesis’ means: statement about solution of a problem.
 position of these variables in the specific frame of reference
So hypothesis is:
 a tentative statement about the solution of the problem.
 the composition of some variables which have some specific position or role of the
variables i.e. to be verified empirically
 a brilliant guess about the solution of a problem
 A research hypothesis is a tentative answer to a research problem, expressed in the form
of a clearly stated relation between the Variable.
Definition of Hypothesis:
 Hypothesis is considered as an intelligent guess or prediction, that gives directional to the
researcher to answer the research question.
 Hypothesis or Hypotheses are defined as the formal statement of the tentative or expected
prediction or explanation of the relationship between two or more variables in a specified
population
 A hypothesis is a formal tentative statement of the expected relationship between two or
more variables under study.
 A hypothesis helps to translate the research problem and objective into a clear exp

IMPORTANCE OF HYPOTHESIS

 Hypothesis enables the researcher to objectively investigate new areas of discovery, thus
helps in theory building.
 Hypothesis provides objectivity to the research activity.
 Hypothesis provides directions to conduct research.
 Hypothesis provides clear and specific goals to the researchers. These goals provide the
investigator with a basis for selecting sample and research procedures to meet the set
goals.
 Hypothesis provides a link between theories and actual practical research.
 It serves as a bridge between theory and reality.
 A hypothesis suggests the methodology to be chosen to conduct the study.
 It is a tentative statement of the anticipated results, it guides the researcher towards the
direction in which the research should proceed.
  It stimulates the thinking process of the researcher a the researcher forms the hypotheses
by anticipating the outcome.

 It provides directions about the methodology to be chosen & techniques of data analysis.
 Hypothesis provides an understanding of the researchers about what to expect from the
results of the study.
 It serves as a framework for drawing conclusions of a research study.
 Without a hypothesis a research would be an aimless wandering.
CHARACTERISTICS OF HYPOTHESIS:
The wording of a hypothesis must have certain attributes that make it easier for a researcher to
ascertain its validity. These attributes are:
1)A hypothesis should be simple, specific and conceptually clear.
For example: The average age of the male students in this class is higher than that of the female
students
2) A hypothesis should be capable of verification .
3) A hypothesis should be related to the existing body of knowledge
4) A hypothesis should be operational is able and it should be empirically testable (‘God is
Great’ is not a hypothesis)
5. Hypothesis should be amenable to testing within a reasonable time. One cannot spend a life-
time collecting data to test it.
6. Hypothesis should be limited in scope and must be specific
7. Hypothesis should be stated as far as possible in most simple terms so that the same is easily
understandable by all concerned.
SOURCES OF HYPOTHESIS:
The major sources of hypotheses are:
1) Theoretical or conceptual frameworks:
 The most important sources of hypotheses are theoretical or conceptual frameworks
developed for the study.
 Through a deductive approach these hypotheses are drawn from theoretical or conceptual
frameworks for testing them.
 For example, Roy’s adaptation Model is used in are search study, where a hypothesis can
be drawn from a concept of the theoretical mode that ‘patient’s adaptation to a chronic
illness depends on availability of social support for them.
2) Previous research:
 Findings of the previous studies may be used for framing the hypotheses for another
study.
  For example, in a small sample descriptive study, are searcher found that a number of
patients admitted with coronary artery disease had increased body mass index.
 In another research study, a researcher may use this finding to formulate a hypothesis as
‘Obesepatients have increased risk for development of coronary artery disease’.
3) Real-life experiences:
Real-life experiences also contribute in the formulation of hypotheses for research studies.
For example, Newton had a life-changing experience of the falling of an apple &formulated a
hypothesis that earth attracts all the mass towards its centre, through several researchers were
conducted before generating a law of central gravity.
4) Academic literature:
Academic literature is based on formal theories, empirical evidences, experiences, observation,
&conceptualizations of academicians.
These literatures may serve as good sources for formulating hypotheses for research studies.
CHARACTERISTICS OF HYPOTHESIS:
Conceptual clarity:
Hypothesis should consist of clearly defined & understandable concepts. It should be stated in
very terms, the meaning & implication of which cannot be doubted. To facilitate the conceptual
clarity, hypothesis can be stated in declarative statement, in present tense.
Empirical referents:
Research must have an ultimate empirical referent. No usable hypothesis can embody moral
judgments. A good hypothesis must have empirical basis from the area of enquiry.
Objectivity:
Hypothesis must be objective, which facilitates objectivity in data collection & keeps the
research activity free from researcher value - judgment.
Specificity: It should be specific, not general, & should explain the expected relations between
variables. For example, regular yoga reduces stress.
Relevant:
The hypothesis should be relevant to the problem being studied as well as the objectives of the
study. Hypothesis must have relevance with theoryunder test in a research process.
Testability:
Hypothesis should be testable &should not be a moral judgment. It must be directly/indirectly
observable & measurable. The researcher can set up a situation that permits one to assess if it is
true or false. It must be verifiable. For example, a statement such as ‘bad partners produce bad
children’. This sort of hypothesis cannot be tested.
Consistency:
A hypothesis should be consistent with an existing body of theories, research findings, & other
hypotheses. It should correspond with existing knowledge.
Simplicity:
A hypothesis should be formulated in simple & understandable terms. It should require fewer
conditions & assumptions.
Availability of techniques:
The researchers must make sure that methods are available for testing their proposed hypotheses.
Purposiveness:
The researcher must formulate only purposeful hypotheses, which has relevance with research
problem & objectives.
Verifiability: A good hypothesis can be actually verified in practical terms.
Profundity of effect:
A good hypothesis should have profound effect upon a variety of research variables.
Economical:
Expenditure of money & the time can be controlled if the hypotheses underlying the research
undertaken is good.
TYPES OF HYPOTHESIS:
1) Simple & complex hypothesis
Simple hypothesis:
It is a statement which reflects the relationship between two variables.
For example, ‘the lower the level of hemoglobin, the higher is the risk of infection among
postpartumwomen’.
Complex hypothesis:
It is a statement which reflects the relationship between more than two variables.
For example, ‘satisfaction is higher among patients who are older & dwelling in rural area than
those who are younger & dwelling in urban area’.
2) Associative & causal hypothesis
Associative hypothesis:
It reflects a relationship between variables that occurs or exists in natural settings without
manipulation. This hypothesis is used in correlational research studies
Examples of associative hypothesis prediction Communication skills of healthcare providers &
cost of care related to the satisfaction of patients Predicts relationship among variables but not
the type of relationship.
Causal hypothesis:
 It predicts the cause-and-effect relationship between two or more dependent &
independent variables in experimental or interventional setting, where independent
variable is manipulated by research to examine the effect on the dependent variable.
 The causal hypothesis reflects the measurement of dependent variable to examine the
effect of dependent variable, which is manipulated by the researcher(s).
 For examples, prevalence of pin site infection is lower in patients who receive pin site
care with hydrogen peroxide as compared to patients who receive the pinsite care with
Betadine solution.

3) Directional & nondirectional hypothesis

Directional hypothesis:
It specifies not only the existence, but also the expected direction of the relationship between
variables.
Directional hypothesis states the nature of the relationship between two or more variables such
aspositive, negative, or no relationship.
To express the direction of relationship between variables, the directional terms are used to state
the hypothesis such as positive, negative, less, more, increased, decreased, greater, higher, lower,
etc.
For examples, ‘there is a positive relationship between years of nursing experience & job
satisfaction amongnurses.
Nondirectional Hypothesis:
It reflects the relationship between two or more variables, but is does not specify the
anticipateddirection & nature of relationship such as positive or negative.
It indicates the existence of relationship between the variables.
For example, ‘there is relationship between years of nursing experience & job satisfaction among
nurses.
4) Null & research hypothesis:
Null hypothesis (H0):
It is also known as statistical hypothesis & is used for statistical testing & interpretation of
statistical outcomes. It states the existence of no relationship between the independent &
dependent variables. For example, ‘there is no relationship between smoking &the incidence of
coronary artery disease’.
Research hypothesis (H1): It states the existence of relationship between two or more variables.
For examples, ‘there is relationship between smoking &incidence of lung cancer.

CONCLUSION:
The Etymological meaning, according to Kumar Singh (2006), of hypothesis is from two Greek
roots: Hypo + thesis = Hypothesis Hypo means: tentative or subject to verification composition
of two or more variables which is to be verified ‘Thesis’ means: statement about solution of a
problem. There are different types of hypothesis null and research hypothesis, directional and
indirectional hypothesis, simple and complex hypothesis.
REFERENCES:
Sharma k. S. (2018) “Textbook of Nursing Research and statistics.” 3rd edition. Elsevier
Publication.
Rentala. S. (2019). “Basics in Nursing Research and Biostatistics.” 1st edition. Jaypee Brothers
Medical Publishers.
Patel. P.S (.2016). “Essential Textbook of Nursing Research and Statistics.” 1st edition
Samikshya Publication, Kathmandu. Nepal.
www.drjayeshpatidar.blogspot.com