Hypothesis

Introduction
• A supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence
as a starting point for further investigation.

• A hypothesis is an educated guess that's formed at the beginning of a

research experiment and can be used in almost every field.

• A hypothesis is an assumption that is made based on some evidence. This is

the initial point of any investigation that translates the research questions into
predictions. It includes components like variables, population and the relation
between the variables. A research hypothesis is a hypothesis that is used to
test the relationship between two or more variables.
• Literal Meaning The word hypothesis consists of two words: Hypo +
thesis = Hypothesis. ‘Hypo’ means tentative or subject to the
verification and ‘Thesis’ means statement about solution of a
problem. The word meaning of the term hypothesis is a tentative
statement about the solution of the problem.
 Types of hypothesis
• A simple hypothesis is a prediction of the relationship between two variables: the
independent variable and the dependent variable

Dependent Independent
variable variable
• Simple Hypothesis Examples
• Getting at least 8 hours of sleep can make people more alert.
• Drinking sugary drinks daily leads to being overweight.
• Smoking cigarettes daily leads to lung cancer.
 Complex hypothesis
• A complex hypothesis describes a relationship between variables.
However, it’s a relationship between two or more independent
variables and two or more dependent variables.

• Complex Hypothesis Examples

• Eating more vegetables and fruits leads to weight loss, glowing skin,
and reduces the risk of many diseases such as heart disease.
 Null Hypothesis
• A null hypothesis, denoted by H0, proposes that two factors or groups are
unrelated and that there is no difference between certain characteristics of a
population or process. 

• Null Hypothesis Examples

• There is no significant change in a person’s health during the times when they
drink green tea only or root beer only.
• There is no significant change in an individual’s work habits whether they get
eight hours or nine hours of sleep.
• There is no significant change in the growth of a plant if one uses distilled water
only or vitamin-rich water only to water it.
 Alternative Hypothesis

• An alternative hypothesis, denoted by H1 or HA , is a claim that is

contradictory to the null hypothesis. Researchers will pair the
alternative hypothesis with the null hypothesis in order to prove that
there is no relation. If the null hypothesis is disproven, then the
alternative hypothesis will be accepted. If the null hypothesis is not
rejected, then the alternative hypothesis will not be accepted.
 Alternative Hypothesis Examples

• A person’s health improves during the times when they drink green
tea only, as opposed to root beer only.
• Work habits improve during the times when one gets 8 hours of sleep
only, as opposed to 9 hours of sleep only.
• The growth of the plant improved during the times when it received
vitamin-rich water only, as opposed to distilled water only.
 Empirical Hypothesis

• An empirical hypothesis, or working hypothesis, comes to life when a

theory is being put to the test using observation and experiment. It's
no longer just an idea or notion. Rather, it is going through trial and
error and perhaps changing around those independent variables.

• Empirical Hypothesis Examples

• Women taking vitamin E grow hair faster than those taking vitamin K.
• Thirsty rats find their way through a maze quicker if there is water at
the end of the maze.
 Statistical Hypothesis
• A statistical hypothesis is an examination of a portion of a population or
statistical model. In this type of analysis, you use statistical information from an
area. For example, if you wanted to conduct a study on the life expectancy of
people from Savannah, you would want to examine every single resident of
Savannah. This is not practical. Therefore, you would conduct your research
using a statistical hypothesis or a sample of Savannah's population.

• Statistical Hypothesis Examples

• 50% of Savannah's population lives beyond the age of 70.
• 80% of the U.S. population gets a divorce because of irreconcilable differences.
• 45% of the poor in the U.S. are illiterate.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD HYPOTHESIS

• It must be logical.
• It must be simple and clear.
• It needs to be precise.
• It must identify the research objectives.
• It must be empirically testable with experimentation and research.
• It must be manageable.
• It must be relevant and specific to the theme of the research.
• It must be predictable.
• It must be neither specific nor general.
• It must be considered valuable even if it proves false.