Constructing Hypothesis

S.Arora
 Hypothesis

• A formal statement of the

researcher’s prediction of the
relationship that exists among the
variables under investigation.

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• After identification of research problem
• Stated research purpose
• Stated research questions

• Formulate the research hypothesis

• Why need a hypothesis?
Important! primarily in quantitative studies

• The stated hypothesis typically emerges from

the literature review or from theory.

• Also may come from reasoning based on

casual observations of events
A hypothesis must be capable of being
either confirmed or not confirmed!

Means the hypothesis must be about something

for which
• one set of possible outcomes would be viewed
as supporting the hypothesis
• And the other set of possible outcomes would
be viewed as not supporting the hypothesis
 Why more apt in quantitative
research!

• Qualitative research basically attempts to

discover, explore or describe a given setting,
event or situation, therefore hypothesis
formulation is appropriate in onset of
quantitative researches.
 In quantitative research studies

• We not only specify variables being

investigated but also make prediction about
the relationship that exists between these
variables.
• We then conduct the study to determine
whether relation that we predict among these
variables actually exists
 Whereas in qualitative study
• Researchers are interested in exploring
phenomena and generating ideas and particular
findings.
• This exploration is accomplished by asking
general questions
• From participants responses, additional research
questions, or even hypothesis might emerge.
However in many qualitative studies researchers
only posses research questions rather than
formulating and testing research hypothesis
 IN conclusion …
• After extensive literature survey a researcher
should state in a clear terms “ the working
hypothesis or hypothesis”
• Working hypothesis is a tentative assumption
made in order to draw out and test its logical
or empirical consequences.
 Hypothesis…(importance)

• Provide the focal point for research

• Affects the research methodology
• Affects the quality of data
 Hypothesis should be…
• Specific
• Limited to the piece of research
• General idea: to guide the researcher by
delimiting the area of research
• Keep the researcher on right track
 Hypothesis arise as a result of..
• Prior thinking about the subject
• Examination of available data
• Material including related studies and the
counsel of experts and interested parties
• Hypothesis are more useful when stated in
clear & precisely defined terms.

• Generally in case of exploratory or formulative

research researchers do not aim in testing
hypothesis
 To sum up....
• A hypothesis makes a prediction of the expected
outcome in a given situation
• Usually: how the manipulation of the independent
variable will influence the behaviour of a dependent
variable
• The hypothesis is tested in an experiment
• Experimental design ensures that what you are doing
is genuinely (and solely) responsible for the results
• Extraneous variables have to be controlled

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 Types of hypothesis….
• Descriptive
• Relational
• Casual
• Working
• Null
• Statistical
• Commonsense
• Complex
• Analytical
• Descriptive hypothesis
Describes characteristics of a variable
• Relational hypothesis
Describes the relationship between the variables
• Casual hypothesis
Describes casual relationship between the
variables
• Working hypothesis
Hypothesis which are subject to modification as
the investigation proceeds
• Null hypothesis
They state that no difference exists between the
parameter and statistic being compared to it.
• Statistical Hypothesis
These are statements about a statistical
population. These are quantitative in nature in
that they are numerically measurable.
• Commonsense Hypothesis
It represents the commonsense ideas. They
state the existence of empirical uniformities
perceived through day to day observation.
• Complex Hypothesis
It aims at testing the existence of logically
derived relationship between empirical
uniformities
• Analytical hypothesis
These are concerned with the relationship of
analytic variables. These hypothesis occur at
the highest level of abstraction. It also
specifies the relationship between changes in
one variable and changes in another.
 Null hypothesis
• Experiments are generally set up to demonstrate or
support (rarely “prove” , note) a hypothesis
• The null hypothesis H0 is that any observed changes
in behaviour are due to chance
• The alternate hypothesis H1 is the hypothesis you
are trying to demonstrate
• Usually, the best you can do is refute H0 thus showing
that H1 is probably correct (with a measruable degree
of likelihood: statistical significance)

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• Thanks!