The Word

Greek word: hupothesis,

Meaning: proposal or supposition

Definition

Hypothesis can be defined as an intelligent guess or

assumption or conjecture of an investigator regarding
the relationship between the variables of his interest
Hypothesis is a provisional statement put forward
for the sake of argument, or for the purpose of being
tested.
A hypothesis can proved to be true or false
A tentative explanation for an observation,
phenomenon, or scientific problem that can be tested
by further investigation.
Something taken to be true for the purpose of
argument or investigation; an assumption
 Examples

Many women stop breast feeding before the child is 2

years old

Diarrhoea cases increase during the months of summer

A large number of children in the village suffer from

Ankylostomiasis

Patients do not come to outpatient departments of a

hospital on Fridays
 Null Hypothesis (H0)
There is no significant relationship between Obesity
and Diabetes Mellitus

Alternative Hypothesis (H1)

There is positive relationship between Obesity and
Diabetes Mellitus i.e. obese people are more prone
to development of Diabetes Mellitus
 Null Hypothesis

Null derives from the Latin word ‘nullus’ meaning ‘none’.

It denotes that there is no true difference between or

among the sample value & the population value.

Smokers are more prone to lung cancer than the non-

smokers.
Smokers have five times higher mortality rate than
the non-smokers.
 Null Hypothesis H0 Ho

Alternative hypothesis H1 Hi

When null hypothesis is rejected, the alternative

hypothesis is accepted (and vice versa)

This means,

statistical hypothesis testing usually focuses on the null

hypothesis, which is a hypothesis of no association

between two variables e.g. training & injury.

 A null hypothesis is denoted by Ho & an alternative
hypothesis is denoted by Hi (Ha)

When null hypothesis is rejected, the alternative

hypothesis is accepted (and vice versa)

This means, statistical hypothesis testing usually focuses

on the null hypothesis, which is a hypothesis of no
association between two variables e.g. training & injury.
 Remember
a hypothesis
is hypothetical until
it is disproved or proved.
When this happens,
one can be said
We do not in fact conclude to have a thesis.
simply that a hypothesis is
correct on the basis of one
experiment, but rather
say that the result tends
to confirm the hypothesis,
or lends support to it.
Hypothesis Human sacrifice causes spring to
return

Consequence If a sacrifice is made spring will

return

Test Carry out the sacrifice

Result Spring returns

Conclusion The hypothesis is correct i.e.

accepted
Hypothesis Human sacrifice causes spring to
return
Consequence If a sacrifice is not made spring will
not return
Test Do not perform the sacrifice this
year

Result Spring returns

Conclusion The hypothesis is not correct i.e.

rejected
Hypothesis There is positive relationship
between Obesity and Diabetes
Mellitus
Consequence obese people are more prone to
development of DM
Test Do not become obese
(t, Z, χ2, ANOVA etc.)
Result Diabetes occurs

Conclusion The hypothesis is not correct i.e.

rejected
 A Mysterious Ailment

Descriptive Epidemiologic Clues

Person Place Time

Hypotheses
 A Mysterious Ailment

Descriptive Epidemiologic Clues

Person Place Time
Young homosexual Large cities 180 cases since last
men summer
Drug Users New york Months of fever,
malaise and drastic
90% are young Los Angeles weight loss
homosexual
Hypotheses
 A Mysterious Ailment

Descriptive Epidemiologic Clues

Person Place Time
Young homosexual Large cities 180 cases since last
men summer
New York
Drug Users Months of fever,
Los Angeles malaise and drastic
90% are bisexual weight loss
or homosexual

Hypotheses
… a new germ has emerged ….
… something in the environment ….
… use of sexual stimulants ….
Hypothesis Generation
 A Mysterious Ailment

Descriptive Epidemiologic Clues

Person Place Time
Young homosexual Large cities 180 cases since last
men summer
New York
Drug Users Months of fever,
Los Angeles malaise and drastic
90% are bisexual weight loss
or homosexual

Hypotheses
Shaking hands caused the mysterious ailment.
 A Mysterious Ailment

Descriptive Epidemiologic Clues

Person Place Time
Young homosexual Large cities 180 cases since last
men summer
New York
Drug Users Months of fever,
Los Angeles malaise and drastic
90% are bisexual weight loss
or homosexual

Hypotheses
Sitting on toilet seats caused the mysterious ailment.
 A Mysterious Ailment

Descriptive Epidemiologic Clues

Person Place Time
Young homosexual Large cities 180 cases since last
men summer
New York
Drug Users Months of fever,
Los Angeles malaise and drastic
90% are bisexual weight loss
or homosexual

Hypotheses
Using injection needles caused the mysterious ailment.
 A Mysterious Ailment

Descriptive Epidemiologic Clues

Person Place Time
Young homosexual Large cities 180 cases since last
men summer
New York
Drug Users Months of fever,
Los Angeles malaise and drastic
90% are bisexual weight loss
or homosexual

Hypotheses
Mosquito bites caused the mysterious ailment.