Research Hypothesis Reporter: Reavilla A. Egot Importance of Hypothesis • It gives focus and direction to the study and prevents Random Empirical Warning i.e. blind research and gathering irrelevant data. • It sensitizes the investigator to the major aspects to be considered i.e. Goals, Tools, Sample, Design etc. • It helps to understand the problem batter and hence helps us to correct the different entries of the study • In Research work, a hypothesis is needed to clarify the issues at stake and to crystallize the problem for investigation. • A Hypothesis serves as a powerful bacon that lights the way for the Research Worker. Characteristics of Hypothesis 1. Hypothesis means less than or less certain than a thesis 2. Presumptive statement of a proposition. 3. It is a tentative or working proposition 4. Hypothesis considered as a powerful tool to achieve dependable knowledge. 5. Hypothesis helps the researcher to relate theory to observation and observation to theory Characteristics of Hypothesis 6. Hypothesis enables to locate and identify variables involved and suggest Methodological Procedures. 7. It is recognizes more in studies which aim to make prediction about some outcome. 8. It provides direction to the research 9. It provides rational statement 10.It facilitates the extension of knowledge in the Research Area Formulation of Hypothesis • Hypotheses are guesses or tentative generalization, but these guesses are not merely accidents. Collection of factual information alone does not lead to successful formulation of hypotheses. • There are no precise rules for formulating hypotheses and deductive consequences from them that can be Empirically verified. • There are certain necessary conditions that are conducive of their formulation. Some of them are: 1. Richness of background knowledge – A researcher may deduce hypotheses inductively after making observation of behavior, noticing trends or probable relationships. For Example - Background knowledge is essential for perceiving relationships among the variables. Relevant to a particular problem, various researchers may have different hypotheses, but the soundness of the hypotheses will depend upon the quantum of knowledge that one possesses of the area of investigation. Hypotheses may be formulated correctly by person who has rich experiences and academic background, but they can never be formulated by those who have poor background knowledge. 2. Versatility of intellect Hypotheses are also derived through deductive reasoning from a theory. Such hypotheses are called “deductive hypotheses”. A researcher may study by selecting one of the theories in his own area of interest, after selecting the particular theory, the researcher proceeds to deduce a hypothesis from this theory through symbolic logic or mathematics. This is possible only when the researcher has a versatile intellect and can make use of it for restructuring his experiences. The essential criteria for formulating hypothesis are creative imagination, sound attitude and agile intellect. 3. Analogy and other practices Analogies also lead the researcher to clues that he may find useful in the formulation of hypotheses and for findings solutions to problems. The researcher should use analogies with caution as they are not fool proof tools for findings solutions to problems. Forms of Hypothesis 1. Directional Hypothesis The hypotheses which stipulate the direction of the expected differences or relationships are termed as “Directional Hypotheses”. For example, “there will be a positive relationship between individual’s attitude towards high caste Hindus and his socioeconomic status”. “Adolescent boys with high IQ will exhibit low anxiety than adolescent boys with low IQ” 2. Non-Directional Hypotheses A research hypothesis which does not specify the direction of expected differences or relationship is a “Non-directional Hypothesis”. For example: “There will be difference in the adaptability of fathers and mothers towards rearing of their children” “There is a difference in the anxiety level of adolescent girls of high IQ and low IQ” 3. Declarative hypothesis When the researcher makes a “positive statement” about the outcomes of the study, the hypothesis takes the Declarative form. For example, the hypothesis: “The academic achievement of extroverts is significantly higher than that of the Introverts” 4. Null Hypothesis In the Null form, the researcher makes a statement that no relationship exists. Example of Null Hypothesis: “There is no significant difference between the academic achievement of high school athletes and that of non athletes” Since Null hypothesis can be tested statistically, they are often termed as Statistical Hypotheses. 5. Question Hypothesis In the question form hypothesis, a question is asked as to what the outcome will be, instead of stating what outcome is expected. Suppose a researcher is interested in knowing whether programmed instruction has any relationship to test anxiety of children. “Will teaching children through programmed instruction decrease their test anxiety?” Types Of Hypothesis • • • • • • • Simple Hypothesis Complex Hypothesis Working or Research Hypothesis Null hypothesis Alternative hypothesis Logical Hypothesis Statistical hypothesis (1) Simple Hypothesis A simple Hypothesis is a Hypothesis that reflects or show a Relationship between Two Variables - Independent and Dependent Variable. For example: Higher the unemployment, higher would be the rate of crime in society. (2) Complex Hypothesis A Complex Hypothesis is a Hypothesis that reflects relationship…more than Two Variables For example: Higher the Poverty, higher the illiteracy in a society, higher will be rate of crime( Three VariablesTwo Independent and One Dependent) Working or Research Hypothesis (3) Working or Research Hypothesis • A Hypothesis, that is accepted to put to rest and work on in a research, is called a “Working or Research Hypothesis”. • It is a Hypothesis that assumed to be suitable to explain certain facts and relationship of phenomena. It is hoped that this Hypothesis would generate a productive theory and is accepted to put to test for investigation. • It can be any Hypothesis that is processed for work during the research. (4) Alternative Hypothesis • If the Working Hypothesis is proved wrong or Rejected, another Hypothesis (to replace the Working Hypothesis) is formulated to be tested to generate the desired resultthis is known as “Alternative hypothesis”. • As the name mentions, it is an alternate assumption (a relationship or an explanation)which is adopted after the Working Hypothesis fails to generate required theory. Alternative Hypothesis is denoted by H1. (5) Statistical Hypothesis • A Hypothesis, that can be verified statistically, is known as a Statistical Hypothesis. • It can be any Hypothesis that has the quality of being verified statistically. It means using quantitative techniques, to generate statistical data, can easily verified it. It can also be said that the variable in a Statistical hypothesis can be transformed into quantifiable sub-variable to test it statistically. (6)Logical Hypothesis • A Hypothesis, that can be verified logically, is known as a “Logical Hypothesis”. • It is a Hypothesis expressing a relationship whose inter-links can be joined on the basis of logical explanation. It can be verified by logical evidence. Being verified logically does not necessarily mean that it cannot be verified statistically. It may or may not be verified statistically but it can be verified Logically.
