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A hypothesis is an assumption made based on evidence that serves as a starting point for research, predicting relationships between variables. It must be testable, specific, falsifiable, and grounded in prior research, and can originate from existing theories, observations, or personal curiosity. There are various types of hypotheses, including simple, complex, directional, non-directional, null, and associative/casual hypotheses, each serving different purposes in research.

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10 views4 pages

7F352C3E

A hypothesis is an assumption made based on evidence that serves as a starting point for research, predicting relationships between variables. It must be testable, specific, falsifiable, and grounded in prior research, and can originate from existing theories, observations, or personal curiosity. There are various types of hypotheses, including simple, complex, directional, non-directional, null, and associative/casual hypotheses, each serving different purposes in research.

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Lohita Deora
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© © All Rights Reserved
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HYPOTHESIS

A hypothesis is an assumption that is made based on some evidence. This is the initial point
of any investigation that translates the research questions into predictions. It includes
components like variables, population and the relation between the variables. A research
hypothesis is a hypothesis that is used to test the relationship between two or more variables.
Hypothesis is also called Theory, Thesis, Guess, Assumption, or Suggestion. Hypothesis
creates a structure that guides the search for knowledge. Hypothesis is a suggested idea or an
educated guess or a proposed explanation made based on limited evidence, serving as a
starting point for further study. They are meant to lead to more investigation.

It's mainly a smart guess or suggested answer to a problem that can be checked through study
and trial. In science work, we make guesses called hypotheses to try and figure out what will
happen in tests or watching. These are not sure things but rather ideas that can be proved or
disproved based on real-life proofs. A good theory is clear and can be tested and found wrong
if the proof doesn't support it.

Goods and Hatt have defined it as, ‘A proposition which can be put to test to determine its
validity,’

Characteristics of Hypothesis

Here are some key characteristics of a hypothesis:

Testable: An idea (hypothesis) should be made so it can be tested and proven true through
doing experiments or watching. It should show a clear connection between things.

Specific: It needs to be easy and on target, talking about a certain part or connection between
things in a study.
Falsifiable: A good guess should be able to show it's wrong. This means there must be a
chance for proof or seeing something that goes against the guess.
Logical and Rational: It should be based on things we know now or have seen, giving a
reasonable reason that fits with what we already know.
Predictive: A guess often tells what to expect from an experiment or observation. It gives a
guide for what someone might see if the guess is right.

Concise: It should be short and clear, showing the suggested link or explanation simply
without extra confusion.
Grounded in Research: A guess is usually made from before studies, ideas or watching
things. It comes from a deep understanding of what is already known in that area.

Flexible: A guess helps in the research but it needs to change or fix when new information
comes up.
Relevant: It should be related to the question or problem being studied, helping to direct
what the research is about.
Empirical: Hypotheses come from observations and can be tested using methods based on
real-world experiences.

Sources of Hypothesis
Hypotheses can come from different places based on what you're studying and the kind of
research. Here are some common sources from which hypotheses may originate:
Existing Theories: Often, guesses come from well-known science ideas. These ideas may
show connections between things or occurrences that scientists can look into more.

Observation and Experience: Watching something happen or having personal experiences


can lead to guesses. We notice odd things or repeat events in everyday life and experiments.
This can make us think of guesses called hypotheses.
Previous Research: Using old studies or discoveries can help come up with new ideas.
Scientists might try to expand or question current findings, making guesses that further study
old results.

Literature Review: Looking at books and research in a subject can help make guesses.
Noticing missing parts or mismatches in previous studies might make researchers think up
guesses to deal with these spots.

Problem Statement or Research Question: Often, ideas come from questions or problems
in the study. Making clear what needs to be looked into can help create ideas that tackle
certain parts of the issue.

Analogies or Comparisons: Making comparisons between similar things or finding


connections from related areas can lead to theories. Understanding from other fields could
create new guesses in a different situation.

Hunches and Speculation: Sometimes, scientists might get a gut feeling or make guesses
that help create ideas to test. Though these may not have proof at first, they can be a
beginning for looking deeper.
Technology and Innovations: New technology or tools might make guesses by letting us
look at things that were hard to study before.

Personal Interest and Curiosity: People's curiosity and personal interests in a topic can help
create guesses. Scientists could make guesses based on their own likes or love for a subject.

Is Hypothesis Necessary for research?


Hypothesis brings clarity, specificity and focus to a research problem, but is not compulsory
for a study. You can conduct a valid investigation without constructing a formal hypothesis.
Although, formulation of hypothesis provides a study with focus. It tells you specific aspects
of a research problem to be investigated. A hypothesis is most useful in tests for cause,
classification and not in questions of existence, optimal value or effect.

Types of Hypothesis

There are six forms of hypothesis and they are:

Simple hypothesis

Complex hypothesis

Directional hypothesis
Non-directional hypothesis

Null hypothesis

Associative and casual hypothesis

1. Simple Hypothesis: A simple hypothesis is a statement that predicts a direct


relationship between two variables: one independent (the cause or predictor) and one
dependent (the effect or outcome). It suggests that changes in the independent variable
will result in changes in the dependent variable. For example, a simple hypothesis
might state, "Increased study time improves student test scores," where study time is
the independent variable and test scores are the dependent variable. This hypothesis
implies that as students spend more time studying, their test performance will
improve. Simple hypotheses are testable through experimentation and data analysis,
and they provide a clear direction for research by focusing on the relationship
between two variables.

2. Complex Hypothesis: A complex hypothesis is a statement that predicts the


relationship between two or more independent variables and two or more dependent
variables, often implying an interaction or a more intricate relationship between the
variables. Unlike a simple hypothesis, which focuses on a direct link between one
independent and one dependent variable, a complex hypothesis involves multiple
factors that may influence the outcome. For example, a hypothesis like "The amount
of study time and the type of study method together influence student test scores, with
more study time leading to higher scores, especially when students use active learning
methods" suggests that the effect of study time on test scores is influenced by the
study method. This type of hypothesis is used when researchers want to explore how
multiple variables interact to affect an outcome, providing a more detailed prediction
of relationships within the data.

3. Directional Hypothesis: A directional hypothesis is a type of hypothesis that predicts


the specific direction of the relationship between two variables. It suggests not only
that a relationship exists but also whether it is positive or negative. In other words, it
specifies how one variable will change in response to another. For example, a
directional hypothesis might state, "Increased physical activity leads to a decrease in
stress levels." This hypothesis predicts a negative relationship, where the increase in
physical activity will cause a decrease in stress. Directional hypotheses are often
based on prior research or theory that suggests a particular trend or pattern, and they
are useful when researchers want to test a specific expectation about the direction of
an effect.

4. Non- Directional Hypothesis: A non-directional hypothesis is a type of hypothesis


that predicts a relationship between two variables, but it does not specify the direction
of that relationship. It simply suggests that there is an association or difference
between the variables without indicating whether one will increase or decrease as a
result of the other. For example, a non-directional hypothesis could state, "There is a
relationship between physical activity and stress levels," without specifying whether
physical activity will increase or decrease stress levels. This type of hypothesis is
often used when there is no prior evidence or clear expectation about the nature of the
relationship between the variables, allowing researchers to explore the relationship in
both directions.

5. Null hypothesis: A null hypothesis is a statement that suggests there is no significant


relationship or effect between two variables. It serves as the default or starting
assumption in statistical testing, indicating that any observed effect or difference in a
study is due to chance or random variation rather than a real relationship. For
example, a null hypothesis might state, "There is no difference in test scores between
students who study in the morning and those who study in the evening." In this case,
the null hypothesis asserts that study time does not affect test scores. The purpose of
the null hypothesis is to provide a basis for statistical testing, where researchers
attempt to gather evidence to either reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis based on
the data collected. If the null hypothesis is rejected, it suggests that there is a
significant effect or relationship, supporting the alternative hypothesis.

6. Associative and casual hypothesis: An associative hypothesis suggests that two


variables are related, but one does not necessarily cause the other. For example,
"There is a relationship between sleep and stress."
A causal hypothesis claims that one variable causes a change in another. For example,
"Increased exercise reduces stress."

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