Scientific hypothesis Scientific research begins with hunches, guesses and questions that have to be tested.

In order to test them, the researcher must formulate the hypothesis of his work, i.e. an assumption subject to verification . Accordingly, hypotheses are statements and assertions, which can be confirmed or negated through scientific research (e.g. empirical research, experiment etc.). It follows that hypothesis are assertions of a provisional character which can be falsified. The element of falsifiability is a crucial element, i.e. the hypothesis has to be formulated in a way that it is somehow possible to show the opposite (negation) of the hypothesis. For example, the formulation Human beings live forever is not suitable to be a hypothesis, because it would theroretically require to observe a human living forever to falsify that claim, which is not possible. On the other side, the formulation All human beings live forever is suitable as a hypothesis, because the presentation of just one dead human could prove the statement wrong (excluding metaphysical assertions about souls, which are not falsifiable). The formulation of so called null-hypotheses can be very useful in this regard. Null hypothesis are assertions formulated in the negative with regard to the research question and whch are, as any other hypothesis, falsifiable. They typically propose a general or default position, such as that there is no relationship between two observed or measured phenomena. For example, the research question Was the destruction of empires caused by nationalism? can be formulated in a null-hypotesis as follows: The destruction of empires was not caused by nationalism. The null hypothesis is typically paired with a second hypothesis, the alternative hypothesis, which asserts a particular relationship between the phenomena and the negation of the null hypothesis at the same time. It is obvious from the preceding examples, that the formulation of hypothesis is also inspiring and helpful for the elaboration of further sub-hypotheses which enable the researcher to ultimately confirm or negate the basic hypothesis emerging from the his research question. At the same time, the formulation of hypotheses gives a direction for scientific research concerning the concrete object of research, as well as a direction for collection of data and use of scientific approaches (methods) within a scientific work. Finally, it must be noted that it is not a scientific flaw to falsify the hypothesis within a scientific work because good scientific works actually always add something new to the present state of science. Namely, falsified hypotheses which lead to a further hypothesis or the formulation of a whole new scientific theory necessarily enrich the scientific discourse and development.