Q. What is hypothesis?

A research hypothesis is a specific, clear, and testable proposition or predictive

statement about the possible outcome of a scientific research study based on a
particular property of a population, such as presumed differences between groups on a
particular variable or relationships between variables. In other word, hypothesis is a
guessing statement that shows the relation between variables. Some examples of
hypothesis for the research problem related to sales is as follows: 1. New package of
advertisement enhance sales.2. Motivation of Sales Force enhances Sales.

Role of Hypothesis

A hypothesis is a statement that defines the relationship between two variables. It

makes decisions for the claims made. It is an educated prediction that explains the
observed event.
The main reasons for the significance of hypothesis are listed below:
1. Research is conducted under the guidance of hypothesis.
2. Complex problems cannot be solved with a single technique. The hypothesis can
provide multiple techniques to the researcher to solve complex problems.
3. Accuracy and precision are the most important features of hypothesis which is
required for a scientific investigation.
4. The formulation of hypothesis separates the relevant information from irrelevant
information.
5. Hypothesis provides knowledge and direction of the research to the researcher.
6. Hypothesis provides the difference between the true and the false researches.
7. As hypothesis guides the researcher in a proper direction, it saves time, money and
energy.
8. A well-formulated hypothesis provides good, reasonable and proper conclusions.
Hypothesis plays very important roles in scientific research, social research, business
research, education etc. The main role of hypothesis in scientific research is to predict
the results of the future experiments from the hypothesis. Then perform the experiments
to see whether the predictions are supported by the hypothesis.
In social research, the research starts with assumptions and then conclusions are
drawn from the formulated hypothesis.

In business research, hypothesis helps the decision-makers to get new and better ways
to achieve the business goals. It serves as a guidepost between testing and research
methods.
Formulation of Hypothesis.

There are the two ways of formulating hypothesis i.e observation of social events or studying of
literature review. It is formulated by researcher on the basis of statement of problem. Some of
the approaches , generally used by researcher are explained as follows:

1. Discussion: Researcher can have dialogue with expert of related problem for development of
hypothesis.

2. Through Internal Data: Hypothesis can be developed by checking the internal data recorded
by organization.

3. Literature Review: Reviewing of literature based on same problems shows the relation
between variables which help in development of hypothesis.

4. Interview: Researcher can also generate ideas for solving research problem by taking
interview with concerned person or group. That ideas help to develop hypothesis.

Types of Hypothesis

1. Descriptive Hypothesis: The hypothesis that presents the existence, size, type and
distribution of variable is called descriptive hypothesis. for e.g:

What is the market share of noodle in biratnagar?

In Biratnagar, noodle market share is 30%

2.Relational Hypothesis: The hypothesis that shows the relation between variables is called
relational hypothesis.For example,increase in income of people increases the market of product.

3.Directional and non-directional hypothesis: A hypothesis that is formulated by using the words
more or less, likes and dislikes or comparing two variables is called directional hypothesis. For
example. an employment with more work tenure have more commitment towards organization.

A hypotheis that shows the relation or differences betwwn variables but not shows direct relation
, then it is called non- directional hypothesis. For example,there is relation between age and
work satisfaction.

4. Null and Alternative hypothesis: A hypothesis that doesn’t show the relation between
varaiables is called null hypothesis where the hypothesis that shows significant relation betwwn
variables is called alternative hypothesis.