Assumptions

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Overview

An assumption is a self-evident truth which is based upon a

known fact or phenomenon. Oftentimes, especially in
descriptive and historical researches, assumption are not
explicitly expressed but left implicit, that is, they are unwritten.
Generally, every specific question is implicitly based upon an
assumption, expressed or implicit, there can be no specific
question.

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Examples
(1) Specific question: How qualified are the teachers handling science?
Implicit (unwritten) assumption: There are certain qualifications that one should possess
before he can teach science.

(2) Speccific Question: How dequate are the facilities that a school should acquire before it
can offer science as a subject?
Implicit assumption: There are certain required facilities that a school should acquire
before it can offer science as a subject.

(3) Specific question: How effective are the methods used in the teaching of science?
Implicit assumption: There are certain methods that are effective in the teaching of
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science.
 Guidelines in the use of
Basic Assumption
The following are the guidelines in the use of basic assumption:
(By Sugden as cited by Manuel, p. 81)
• You cannot assume the value of your study. Such an argument should have been made
under the section, significance of the study.
• You cannot assume the reliability of the instruments you propose to use in your research.
• You cannot assume the validity of basic data. Validity is established under methodology.
• You cannot assume that your population is typical. This point is to be made under
methodology.
• An assumption is not tested, neither is it defended nor argued.