What is hypothesis ? Definitions of hypothesis, Nature , Characteristics , Functions , Sources , Types of hypothesis , Formulation of hypothesis, Errors in testing a hypothesis , Uses of hypothesis ,
What is hypothesis ?
A tentative statement about the relationship between two or more variables is known as hypothesis. It is a precise, clear, specific and formal testable statement of what the researcher predict about the expected outcome of the study. A hypothesis is a concrete term which we predict before we study. A single study may have one or many hypothesis. A research hypothesis is also known as scientify hypothesis. This is the initial point of any investigation that translates the research questions into a prediction. It is an assumption that is made on the basis of some evidence. It is considered as 2nd most important phase after formulation of research problem. If the statement is found reasonable, then the hypothesis is accepted otherwise rejected. A hypothesis tells you what data to collect and what not to collect, thereby providing focus to the study.
Definitions :-
Goode and Hatt " a proposition which can be put to test to determine it's validity."
According to Lundberg, " A hypothesis is a tentative generalization, the validity of which remains to be tested. In it's most elementary stage, the hypothesis may be any hunch, guess, imaginative idea, which becomes the basis for action or investigation."
Kerlinger, 2002, P-19,. " A hypothesis is a conjectural statement of the relation between two or more variables."
MC Guigan, 1998, P- 35 " We may define a hypothesis as a testable statement of potential relationship between two or more variables."
Reber & Reber, 2001, P-333, " Hypothesis is any statement, proposition or assumption that serves as a tentative explanation of certain facts."
P.V. Yaung " The idea of a temporary but central importance that become the basis of useful research is called a working hypothesis "
Bogardus " A Hypothesis is a proposition to be tested. "
Nature of Hypothesis :-
- Identify the research objectives
- The hypothesis should be conjectural statement
- It should be capable of making predictions
- Can be tested, verifiable or falsifiable
- It is a powerful tool of advancement of knowledge, consistent with existing knowledge and conducive to further enquiry
- Hypothesis should be related to some theory
- Hypothesis should be quantifiable
- The hypothesis should be related to the problem
- The hypothesis should be a positive statement
- Hypothesis are not moral or ethical questions
- It is a prediction of consequences
- Is neither too specific nor to general
- Identify the key abstract concepts involved in the research
- Has the empirical referance
- It is considered valuable even if proven false
- Hypothesis must be testable
- Hypothesis should have a large number of consequences
- A problem cannot be scientifically solved unless it is reduced to hypothesis form
Characteristics of Hypothesis :-
- Hypothesis should not be contradictory
- Hypothesis is never formulated in the form of question
- The hypothesis must be specific and should have scope for conducting more tests
- The hypothesis is should be clear and precise to consider it to be reliable
- Hypothesis should be empirically testable, whether it is right or wrong
- Hypothesis should be specific and precise
- The way of explanation of the hypothesis must be very simple and it should also be understood that the simplicity of the hypothesis is not related to it's significance
- Hypothesis must explain the facts that gave rise to the need for explanation
- Hypothesis should be amenable to testing within reasonable time
Functions of Hypothesis :-
- Hypothesis helps in making an observation and experiments possible
- It enables to direct enquiry along right lives
- It leads to interpret results drawing conclusions related to original purpose
- As it provides a focus, the construction of a hypothesis enhances objectivity in a study
- Hypothesis helps in verifying the observation
- It may lead to formulations of another hypothesis
- The formulation of a hypothesis provides a study with focus
- It makes deductions possible
- It becomes the state point for the investigation
- It enables an investigator to start his research work
- A hypothesis tells you what data to collect and what not to collect, thereby providing focus to the study
- A hypothesis may enable you to add to the formulation of theory. It enables you to conclude specifically what is true or what is false
Sources of Hypothesis :-
- Mental set towards problem solving
- Scientific theory
- Available research literature
- Personal experience
- Creative thinking and insight
- Analsing of available facts
- Guidance from experts
- Culture
- Heuristic leap
- Analogy
- Collected facts
- Plant growth is not effected by light color
- Age has no effect on musical ability
- Age has no effect on how cell phone are used for internet access
- Taking aspirin daily does not affect heart attack risk
- Violent video games have an impact on future acts of violence
- As a result of the employee safety program, there will be a difference in employee injury
- Anger management therapy has an impact on domestic violence recidivism
- Hypothesis is a statement which should be clear, specific, testable and predictable
- It must be guided by some available evidence or information
- It should be formulated by following the review of literature
- Avoid judgmental words in your hypothesis
- Each term in a hypothesis is clearly understood and defined
- Be familiar with your topic before making hypothesis
- It should have theoretical guidance
- hypothesis can be formulated in various research designs
- Know that your hypothesis may change over time as your research progresses
- Go for testing or verifying preconceived ideas, for it research tools will be decided according to research question
- Research questions can be answered by both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, but hypothesis is mostly used in quantitative research methods
- It provides us direction for data collection and their interpretation
- Conclusion drawn are incorrect
- Data collection method inaccurate
- Sampling procedure adopted faulty
- Inappropriate statistical methods used
- Study design selected is faulty
- It prevents blind research
- Forms the starting point of investigation
- Make deduction possible
- It serves a frame work for drawing meaningful conclusion
- Make observation and experiment possible
- It focuses research, without it is like a random and aimless path
- It provides direction to research identifying which is relevant and prevent irrelevant data
Interesting facts 🙂🙂
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