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Chapter 6

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25 views10 pages

Chapter 6

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ruvimbo
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Kumar: Research Methodology

Chapter 6

Constructing Hypotheses

Prepared by Stephanie Fleischer

authored by Stephanie Fleischer © SAGE publications Ltd 2014


Topics covered

• Definition of a hypothesis
• Function of hypothesis
• How to formulate a hypothesis
• Types of hypotheses
• Errors in testing hypotheses

authored by Stephanie Fleischer © SAGE publications Ltd 2014


Definition of a hypothesis
• Verification of an assumption/ assertion
• Assertions become the basis of the enquiry and
are called hypotheses
• Hypotheses bring focus to the research problem
in quantitative research
• Grinnell’s definition (1988: 200)
– A tentative proposition that can be proven or
disproven
– Validity is unknown, hence reliable and valid data
needed
– Specifies a relationship between variables
authored by Stephanie Fleischer © SAGE publications Ltd 2014
Functions of a hypothesis
• The formulation of a hypothesis brings specificity and clarity to
a study.
• This specificity and clarity used to construct a hypothesis
ensures that only information needed is collected, thereby,
providing focus to the study. This also enhances the validity of
a study as it ensures measuring what the study sets out to
measure.
• As it provides a focus, the construction of a hypothesis
enhances objectivity in a study.
• The testing of a hypothesis enables the researcher to
specifically conclude what is true or what is false, thereby,
contributing towards theory formulation.
authored by Stephanie Fleischer © SAGE publications Ltd 2014
Figure 6.1 The process of testing a
hypothesis

authored by Stephanie Fleischer © SAGE publications Ltd 2014


How to formulate a hypothesis
• A hypothesis should be simple, specific and
conceptually clear
• A hypothesis should be capable of verification
• A hypothesis should be related to the existing
body of knowledge
• A hypothesis should be measurable

The average age of male students in this class is


higher than that of the female students.
authored by Stephanie Fleischer © SAGE publications Ltd 2014
Figure 6.3 Types of hypotheses

authored by Stephanie Fleischer © SAGE publications Ltd 2014


Null hypothesis H0
• The null hypothesis states that there is no
difference between two situations, groups,
outcomes, or the prevalence of a condition or
phenomenon
• H0: There is no difference in the average age of
male and female students in this class
• Hypothesis of difference: There is a difference
in the average age of male and female
students in this class
authored by Stephanie Fleischer © SAGE publications Ltd 2014
Errors in testing hypotheses
Incorrect conclusions about the validity of a
hypothesis may be drawn if:
•the study design selected is faulty
•the sampling procedure adopted is faulty
•the method of data collection is inaccurate
•the analysis is wrong
•the statistical procedures applied are inappropriate
•the conclusions drawn are incorrect

authored by Stephanie Fleischer © SAGE publications Ltd 2014


Figure 6.4 Type I and Type II errors in
testing a hypothesis

authored by Stephanie Fleischer © SAGE publications Ltd 2014

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