What is hypothesis ?

What Characteristics it must poses in order to be good research

hypothesis.

Ordinarily, when one talks about hypothesis, one simply means a mere assumption or some
supposition to be proved or disproved. But for a researcher hypothesis is a formal question
that he intends to resolve. Thus a hypothesis may be defined as a proposition or a set of
proposition set forth as an explanation for the occurrence of some specified group of
phenomena either asserted merely as a provisional conjecture to guide some investigation
or accepted as highly probable in the light of established facts. Quite often a research
hypothesis is a predictive statement, capable of being tested by scientific methods, that
relates an independent variable to some dependent variable. For example, consider
statements like the following ones:
“Students who receive counselling will show a greater increase in creativity than students
not receiving counselling” Or “the automobile A is performing as well as automobile B.”
These are hypotheses capable of being objectively verified and tested. Thus, we may conclude that a
hypothesis states what we are looking for and it is a proposition which can be put to a test to
determine its validity.

Characteristics of hypothesis in Research Methodology

Characteristics of hypothesis: Hypothesis must possess the following characteristics:

1. Hypothesis should be clear and precise. If the hypothesis is not clear and precise, the
inferences drawn on its basis cannot be taken as reliable.
2. Hypothesis should be capable of being tested. In a swamp of untestable hypotheses, many a
time the research programmes have bogged down. Some prior study may be done by
researcher in order to make hypothesis a testable one. A hypothesis “is testable if other
deductions can be made from it which, in turn, can be confirmed or disproved by
observation.”
3. Hypothesis should state relationship between variables, if it happens to be a relational
hypothesis.
4. Hypothesis should be limited in scope and must be specific. A researcher must remember that
narrower hypotheses are generally more testable and he should develop such hypotheses.
5. Hypothesis should be stated as far as possible in most simple terms so that the same is easily
understandable by all concerned. But one must remember that simplicity of hypothesis has
nothing to do with its significance.
6. Hypothesis should be consistent with most known facts i.e., it must be consistent with a
substantial body of established facts. In other words, it should be one which judges accept as
being the most likely.
7. Hypothesis should be amenable to testing within a reasonable time. One should not use even
an excellent hypothesis, if the same cannot be tested in reasonable time for one cannot spend
a life-time collecting data to test it.
8. Hypothesis must explain the facts that gave rise to the need for explanation. This means that
by using the hypothesis plus other known and accepted generalizations, one should be able to
deduce the original problem condition. Thus hypothesis must actually explain what it claims
to explain; it should have empirical reference.

The simpler meaning of hypothesis is an educated guess that is developed for a study. If I am asked
to define hypotheses in an easy manner then I find it as a tentative supposition that is used to
explain facts. Most often, scientific methods like observation, investigation and experimentation are
adopted to test such propositions. However, it is also a fact that hypothesis might be correct as well
as wrong when proven through investigation and can be accepted, rejected or verified after its
scrutiny.
Hypothesis generate in a way that scientists or researchers carry out experiments or studies
regarding any problem or phenomenon after they identify an issue or feel that some facts need to be
explored further. Then they declare what actually happens during their course of study- how
something occurs and produces further implications. The purpose of such activity is to draw
solutions to a problem. Various hypotheses can be generated in this way to a single problem in order
to identify its effects and to draw out solutions further. For example, the chances of childhood obesity
increases with the increase in junk food intake or another hypothesis to childhood obesity could be
like this; the chances of childhood obesity increase with the increase in sugar intake or fried food
intake. So, this is a simple example how an issue can further be explored with different hypotheses.
As far as scientific hypotheses are concerned, it is obvious that most of them are written as “if” and
“then” showing a relation between cause and effect. In this regard, hypothesis statement examples
involve,

 If a pregnant woman goes for iron intake daily then there will be a healthy baby and less
possibility of a birth with anemia
 If a person decreases sugar intake in diet then he/ she will not develop tooth cavities

Importance of a Hypothesis in Research

In various qualitative as well as quantitative studies, hypothesis is developed to talk about the
research problem or to address any phenomenon. It aims to encourage critical approach. It enables
the researcher to develop a specific direction as well as better understanding about the subject
matter of the study. It further assists in the careful and focused analysis of data collected. There are
different types of hypotheses. The two that are more basic involve those used in scientific
researches and the other one in sociological studies. In scientific researches, hypotheses are
developed keeping in view the experimentation and observation drawn from the past. Such
hypotheses are tested according to the current theories. Science fair projects involve these forms of
hypotheses. For example, if water temperature rises then sugar/ salt will be dissolved at higher rate.
On the other hand, working hypotheses are based on the widely accepted suppositions in order to
carry out further research. For example, if I start the consumption of more vegetables and fruits then
I will prone to faster weight loss or if I start adding pesticides to the growth of my plants then these
will grow safer.
Aims to Write a Good Hypothesis
In any form of experimentation or research, the fundamental aim to write a hypothesis is to explain
the right track and emphasis of the study. It not only involves the purpose of the study but also
highlights the variables to carry out undergo research.

What are Independent and Dependent Variables in a Hypothesis?

Writing a research hypotheses requires some tricky aspects that need to be tackled carefully.
Remember, a good hypotheses always involves a dependent variable and an independent variable.
It can also be said that one variable always affect the other variable. Let me define independent and
dependent variables, first.

Independent variable is the one whose deviation does not depend on the other variable whereas; a
dependent variable is one whose variations depend on the other variable. The value of a dependent
variable changes with the change in independent variable. Here are some good examples to make
the concept clear for the readers.

 If government and institutions involve public participation at large then the government and
institutions would be more efficient, democratic and responsive as compared to the government
owned institutions. In this example the independent variable is the public participation whereas
the qualities owned by the government are dependent variable because these are the effect of
public participation.
 Increase amount of water and sunlight will escalate rice production. In this hypothesis water and
sunlight are independent variables whereas escalated rice production is dependent variable
because increase in growth of rice depends on the amount of independent variables given.
 If a criminal under 18 learns a skill in juvenile jail then he will be less likely to go for another
crime when released. In this hypothesis, learning a skill is an independent variable whereas its
effect to have less probability of crime in later stages is dependent variable.

Few More Characteristics of a Good Hypothesis

Formulating a hypothesis is a tricky deal. Remember there are various points that turn a proposition
or supposition into a well written and researchable hypothesis. For example, a good hypothesis is
always logical and affirmative. It is based on proper verification with clear, yet precise, statement
offering balanced relationship between independent and dependent variables. It should be a guess
for an observation, phenomenon or a problem that can be tested via research or
experimentation following previous findings as well. The clarity of a good hypothesis could be judged
according to previous studies, if required. Cause and effect factor is also considered while writing a
good hypothesis. It simply means that the hypothesis needs to propose that something will happen if
something else is done. Sample hypothesis in this regard,
 Children who are emotionally abused by their elders are more inclined to develop frustrated
behaviors and feeling of rejection than children who are not
 Kindergarten children who are praised and rewarded while collaborating with the instructor tend
to be more prone to learning than their non-rewarded peers
In a nutshell, it is observed that one variable is supposed to affect the other variable in a well written
hypothesis.
 Criteria of good hypothesis in Research Methodology

The Criteria of a Good Hypothesis in Research Methodology are a set of predefined characteristics.
Whatever may be the types of research works and studies, one thing that is important is that they all
meet on the common ground of scientific method employed by them. One expects scientific research
to satisfy the following criteria:
1. The purpose of the research should be clearly defined and common concepts bemused.
2. The research procedure used should be described in sufficient detail to permit another
researcher to repeat the research for further advancement, keeping the continuity of what has
already been attained.
3. The procedural design of the research should be carefully planned to yield results that areas
objective as possible.
4. The researcher should report with complete frankness, flaws in procedural design and
estimate their effects upon the findings.
5. The analysis of data should be sufficiently adequate to reveal its significance and the methods
of analysis used should be appropriate. The validity and reliability of the data should be
checked carefully.
6. Conclusions should be confined to those justified by the data of the research and limited to
those for which the data provide an adequate basis.
7. Greater confidence in research is warranted if the researcher is experienced, has a good
reputation in research and is a person of integrity.

Qualities of a good Research design

The qualities of a good research design are mentioned below:

1. Good research is systematic: It means that research is structured with specified steps to be
taken in a specified sequence in accordance with the well defined set of rules. Systematic
characteristic of the research does not rule out creative thinking but it certainly does reject the
use of guessing and intuition in arriving at conclusions.
2. Good research is logical: This implies that research is guided by the rules of logical reasoning
and the logical process of induction and deduction are of great value in carrying out research.
Induction is the process of reasoning from a part to the whole whereas deduction is the
process of reasoning from some premise to a conclusion which follows from that very
premise. In fact, logical reasoning makes research more meaningful in the context of decision
making.
3. Good research is empirical: It implies that research is related basically to one or more aspects
of a real situation and deals with concrete data that provides a basis for external validity to
research results.
4. Good research is replicable: This characteristic allows research results to be verified by
replicating the study and thereby building a sound basis for decisions.
In other words :

A hypothesis is a tentative statement about the relationship between two or

more variables. It is a specific, testable prediction about what you expect to happen in a
study. For example, a study designed to look at the relationship between sleep
deprivation and test performance might have a hypothesis that states, "This study is
designed to assess the hypothesis that sleep-deprived people will perform worse on a test
than individuals who are not sleep deprived."

Let's take a closer look at how a hypothesis is used, formed, and tested in scientific
research.

How Is a Hypothesis Used in the Scientific Method?

In the scientific method, whether it involves research in psychology, biology, or some

other area, a hypothesis represents what the researchers think will happen in an
experiment.

The scientific method involves the following steps:

1. Forming a question
2. Performing background research
3. Creating a hypothesis
4. Designing an experiment
5. Collecting data
6. Analyzing the results
7. Drawing conclusions
8. Communicating the results

The hypothesis is what the researchers' predict the relationship between two or more
variables, but it involves more than a guess. Most of the time, the hypothesis begins with
a question which is then explored through background research. It is only at this point
that researchers begin to develop a testable hypothesis.
In a study exploring the effects of a particular drug, the hypothesis might be that
researchers expect the drug to have some type of effect on the symptoms of a specific
illness. In psychology, the hypothesis might focus on how a certain aspect of the
environment might influence a particular behavior.

Unless you are creating a study that is exploratory in nature, your hypothesis should
always explain what you expect to happen during the course of your experiment or
research.

Remember, a hypothesis does not have to be correct. While the hypothesis predicts what
the researchers expect to see, the goal of the research is to determine whether this guess is
right or wrong. When conducting an experiment, researchers might explore a number of
factors to determine which ones might contribute to the ultimate outcome.

In many cases, researchers may find that the results of an experiment do not support the
original hypothesis. When writing up these results, the researchers might suggest other
options that should be explored in future studies.

How Do Researchers Come up With a Hypothesis?

In many cases, researchers might draw a hypothesis from a specific theory or build on
previous research. For example, prior research has shown that stress can impact the
immune system. So a researcher might for a specific hypothesis that: "People with high-
stress levels will be more likely to contract a common cold after being exposed to the
virus than are people who have low-stress levels."

In other instances, researchers might look at commonly held beliefs or folk wisdom.
"Birds of a feather flock together" is one example of folk wisdom that a psychologist
might try to investigate. The researcher might pose a specific hypothesis that "People
tend to select romantic partners who are similar to them in interests and educational
level."
Elements of a Good Hypothesis

When trying to come up with a good hypothesis for your own research or experiments,
ask yourself the following questions:

 Is your hypothesis based on your research on a topic?

 Can your hypothesis be tested?
 Does your hypothesis include independent and dependent variables?

Before you come up with a specific hypothesis, spend some time doing background
research on your topic. Once you have completed a literature review, start thinking about
potential questions you still have. Pay attention to the discussion section in the journal
articles you read. Many authors will suggest questions that still need to be explored.

How to Form a Hypothesis

The first step of a psychological investigation is to identify an area of interest and

develop a hypothesis that can then be tested. While a hypothesis is often described as a
hunch or a guess, it is actually much more specific. A hypothesis can be defined as an
educated guess about the relationship between two or more variables.

For example, a researcher might be interested in the relationship between study habits
and test anxiety.

The researcher would propose a hypothesis about how these two variables are related,
such as "Test anxiety decreases as a result of effective study habits."

In order to form a hypothesis, you should take these steps:

 Start by collecting as many observations about something as you can.

 Evaluate these observations and look for possible causes of the problem.
 Create a list of possible explanations that you might want to explore.
 After you have developed some possible hypotheses, it is important to think of
ways that you could confirm or disprove each hypothesis through
experimentation. This is known as falsifiability.
Falsifiability

In the scientific method, falsifiability is an important part of any valid hypothesis. In

order to test a claim scientifically, it must be possible that the claim could also be proven
false.

Students sometimes confuse the idea of falsifiability with the idea that it means that
something is false, which is not the case. What falsifiability means is that if something
was false, then it is possible to demonstrate that it is false.

One of the hallmarks of a pseudoscience is that it makes claims that cannot be refuted or
proven false.

The Role of Operational Definitions

In the previous example, study habits and test anxiety are the two variables in this
imaginary study. A variable is a factor or element that can be changed and manipulated in
ways that are observable and measurable. However, the researcher must also define
exactly what each variable is using what is known as operational definitions. These
definitions explain how the variable will be manipulated and measured in the study.

In the previous example, a researcher might operationally define the variable

"test anxiety" as the results of a self-report measure of anxiety experienced during an
exam. The variable "study habits" might be defined by the amount of studying that
actually occurs as measured by time.

These precise descriptions of each variable are important because many things can be
measured in a number of different ways. One of the basic principles of any type of
scientific research is that the results must be replicable. By clearly detailing the specifics
of how the variables were measured and manipulated, other researchers can better
understand the results and repeat the study if needed.

Some variables are more difficult than others to define. How would you operationally
define a variable such as aggression? For obvious ethical reasons, researchers cannot
create a situation in which a person behaves aggressively toward others. In order to
measure this variable, the researcher must devise a measurement that assesses aggressive
behavior without harming other people. In this situation, the researcher might utilize a
simulated task to measure aggressiveness.

Examples

A hypothesis often follows a basic format of "If {this happens} then {this will happen}."
One way to structure your hypothesis is to describe what will happen to the dependent
variable if you make changes to the independent variable.

The basic format might be:

"If {these changes are made to a certain independent variable}, then we will observe {a
change in a specific dependent variable}."

A few examples:

 "Students who eat breakfast will perform better on a math exam than students
who do not eat breakfast."
 "Students who experience test anxiety prior to an English exam will get higher
scores than students who do not experience test anxiety."
 "Motorists who talk on the phone while driving will be more likely to make errors
on a driving course than those who do not talk on the phone."

A Hypothesis Checklist

 Does your hypothesis focus on something that you can actually test?
 Does your hypothesis include both an independent and dependent variable?
 Can you manipulate the variables?
 Can your hypothesis be tested without violating ethical standards?

Collecting Data on Your Hypothesis

Once a researcher has formed a testable hypothesis, the next step is to select a research
design and start collecting data. The research method a researcher chooses depends
largely on exactly what they are studying. There are two basic types of research
methods—descriptive research and experimental research.

Descriptive Research Methods

Descriptive research such as case studies, naturalistic observations, and surveys are often
used when it would be impossible or difficult to conduct an experiment. These methods
are best used to describe different aspects of a behavior or psychological phenomenon.
Once a researcher has collected data using descriptive methods, a correlational study can
then be used to look at how the variables are related. This type of research method might
be used to investigate a hypothesis that is difficult to test experimentally.

Experimental Research Methods

Experimental methods are used to demonstrate causal relationships between variables. In

an experiment, the researcher systematically manipulates a variable of interest (known as
the independent variable) and measures the effect on another variable (known as the
dependent variable). Unlike correlational studies, which can only be used to determine if
there is a relationship between two variables, experimental methods can be used to
determine the actual nature of the relationship. That is to say that if changes in one
variable actually cause another to change.

A Word From Verywell

The hypothesis is a critical part of any scientific exploration. It represents what

researchers expect to find in a study or experiment. In some cases, the original hypothesis
will be supported and the researchers will find evidence supporting their expectations
about the nature of the relationship between different variables. In other situations, the
results of the study might fail to support the original hypothesis.

Even in situations where the hypothesis is unsupported by the research, this does not
mean that the research is without value. Not only does such research help us better
understand how different aspects of the natural world relate to one another, but it also
helps us develop new hypotheses that can then be tested in future research.