Research Hypothesis

Research Methodology
B.A. (H) Sociology
DR. RAMJIT KUMAR
 What is Research?
• Scientific Quest
• Systematic and Structured inquiry
• Disciplined and Critical examination
• Exhaustive Investigation and discovering new facts
• Uncovering new realities
• Correction and verification of knowledge
• Construction of a new theory

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 What is a Hypothesis?
• Hypothesis is usually considered as an important
mechanism in research.
• A hypothesis is a statement that introduces a
research question and proposes an expected
result.
• It is an integral part of a method that forms the
basis of scientific experiments.

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A good research
hypothesis is
characterised by
addressing -WH
Questions.
WH Questions include what, who, where, when, how , why etc.

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 Hypothesis
• Etymologically hypothesis is made up of two words, “hypo”
and “thesis” which means less than or less certain than a
thesis.
• Hypothesis provides direction to the research.
• Hypothesis defines what is relevant and what is not
relevant.
• The hypothesis tells the researcher what s/he needs to do
and find out in his study.
• Hypothesis sensitizes the investigator to certain aspects of
the situations which are relevant from the standpoint of
the problem in hand.
• Hypothesis also provides a basis for selecting the sample
and the research procedure to be used in the study.

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 What is Hypothesis?
• Hypotheses are tentative explanation and potential answer
to a problem.
• Hypotheses is a testable statement of a potential
relationship between two or more variables, i.e. advance as
potential solution to the problem.
• A hypothesis is a conjectural statement of the relation
between two or more variables.
• A hypothesis is a hunch, assumption, suspicion, assertion
or an idea about a phenomenon, relationship or situation.
• Quite often a research hypothesis is a predictive statement,
capable of being tested by scientific methods, that relates
an independent variable to some dependent variable.

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 What is Hypothesis?
• It is a presumptive statement of a proposition or a
reasonable guess, based upon the available
evidence, which the researcher may seek to prove
through his or her study.
• In its most elementary stage, the hypothesis is a
hunch, guess, imaginative idea, which becomes the
basis for action or investigation.
• In other words, hypothesis is a tentative
explanation of the research problem. This can be a
possible outcome of the research, or an educated
guess about the research outcome.
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 Nature of Hypothesis
• The hypothesis is a clear statement of what is intended
to be investigated. Hypothesis should be specified
before research is conducted and openly stated in
reporting the results.
• Hypothesis gives the direction and helps the
researcher interpret data.
• In order to be useful in any study, the hypothesis needs
to be stated in such a way that it might be subjected to
empirical testing.
• Hypothesis facilitates the extension of knowledge in a
specified area. They provide tentative explanations of
facts and phenomena, and can be tested and validated.

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 A good hypothesis should -
• Conceptually clear
• Testable
• Logical consistent
• Capable of empirical testing and verification
• Provides a focus to study
• Enhances objectivity of the study.
• Related to body of theoretical literature

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 Formulation of Hypothesis
• Hypothesis is a tentative assumption made in order to test its
logical or empirical consequences that gives a plausible
explanation to be tested.
• The formulation of hypothesis provides a study with focus. It
tells researchers what specific aspects of a research problem to
investigate.
• Usually the hypothesis is derived from problem statement. The
formulation of hypothesis is a stage before the collection of data.
• The formulation of hypothesis is a creative task and involves a
lot of thinking, imagination and innovation.
• A hypothesis tells you what data to collect and what not to
collect, thereby providing focus to the study.

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 Formulation of Hypothesis
• A hypothesis enables a researcher to add to the
formulation of a theory.
• Hypothesis should be formed in a way like… if A is
the case then B is consequence.
• A researcher should be aware about rules of
scientific research techniques, like, the necessity of
theoretical framework and acquiescing herself
theoretical literature of the research topic.

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 Formulation of Hypothesis
• Researchers should have a clear idea and vision
about hypothesis. They should have clarity on all
aspects of related to hypothesis.
• Hence, while forming the hypothesis, researcher
should focus on the following ideas-
a) Narrowing the focus area
b) Collection of data
c) Designing the research procedure
d) On the plausibility of testing the hypothesis

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 Formulation of Hypothesis
• Formulation of a hypothesis brings clarity. It also
enhances objectivity of the study.
• It needs to explain what it claims to explain and should
have empirical reference.
• Hypothesis need to be clear and precise and capable of
being tested. It brings clarity, specificity and focus to a
research problem.
• Hypothesis should be limited in scope and consistent
with known or established facts . The salient fact
about hypothesis is that it should be amenable to
testing within the stipulated time.

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 Formulation of Hypothesis
• A good hypothesis accurately reflects the relevant
sociological fact.
• It must not be in contradiction with approved
relevant statements or other scientific disciplines
and must consider the experience of other
researchers.
• The presence of knowledge of a theoretical
framework is prerequisite to formulation of
hypothesis.

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Hypothesis allows the researchers to-

 Identify the research objectives.

✓ Identify the key abstract concepts involved in the
research.
✓ Identify its relationship to both the problem statement
and the literature review.

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To formulate a promising research hypothesis, a
researcher should entertain following questions-

– Is the language clear and focused?

– What is the relationship between your hypothesis and
your research topic?
– Is your hypothesis testable? If yes, then how?
– What are the possible explanations that you might want
to explore?
– Does your hypothesis include both an independent and
dependent variable?
– Can you manipulate your variables without hampering
the ethical standards?

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 Revision
• A research hypothesis is a specific, clear, and testable proposition or
predictive statement about the possible outcome of a scientific
research study.
• Specifying the research hypotheses is one of the most important steps
in planning a scientific quantitative research study.
• A quantitative researcher most often declares an a priori statement
about the results of the study.
• One of the advantages of stating a research hypothesis is that it
requires the researcher to fully think through what the research
question implies, what measurements and variables are involved, and
what statistical methods should be used to analyze the data.
• In other words, every step of the research process is guided by the
stated research questions.

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 Revision

✓ A hypothesis is a prediction of consequences.

✓ It can be tested – verifiable or falsifiable.
✓ It is considered valuable even if proven false.
✓It is neither too specific nor to general.
 Hypotheses are not moral or ethical questions.

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