Categories of Hypotheses

Null hypotheses

• Symbolized by Ho, which states the absence of relationship between the independent and
dependent variables.

• It is therefore a statement to disprove the fact that the independent variable (treatment,
intervention, or condition) has an effect on the dependent variable.

Alternative hypotheses

• The opposite of null hypotheses

• It is the symbolized by Hi

• The alternative hypothesis states the relationship between the independent and the dependent
variables and the fact that the first affects the second one. (Morgan 2014; Thomas 2013)

Types of Hypotheses

1. Theory-driven vs. Data-driven hypotheses

• A hypothesis that is based on existing theory to explain the relationship of variables and the
effects of one variable on the other variables is theory-driven. But if it is based on the findings of
previous research studies, it is a data-driven hypothesis.

2. Directions (one-tailed) vs. Non-directional (two-tailed) hypotheses

• Directional hypotheses state the relationship of two variables as well as of the relationship of
these variables. Non-directional hypotheses, states the relationship of variables but not on the direction
of the relationship.

3. Descriptive vs. Causal hypotheses

• A statement specifying the relationship between two variables due to the influence of
something is a descriptive hypothesis; due to cause-effect relationship, it is a causal hypothesis. True
experimental or quasi-experimental research such as a correlation study uses causal hypotheses; non-
experimental research uses descriptive hypotheses.