Research Methods and

Scientific Writing
SES-715 2(2-0)
STEP-3 of the research process

Development of working hypotheses

• What is a hypothesis

A formal statement of the expected relationships among variables

Hypothesis
• An estimation, guess assumption or suggestion about the solution to
a problem, the relationship of two or more variables or the nature of
some phenomenon (i.e. an educated guess based on available facts)

• An opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete

information
Hypothesis
• After extensive literature survey, researcher should state in clear
terms the working hypothesis or hypotheses.
• Working hypothesis is tentative assumption made in order to draw
out and test its logical or empirical consequences.
• As such the manner in which research hypotheses are developed is
particularly important since they provide the principal point for
research
• They also affect the manner in which tests must be conducted in the
analysis of data and indirectly the quality of data which is required for
the analysis
Hypothesis
• In most types of research, the development of working hypothesis
plays an important role
• Hypothesis should be very specific and limited to the piece of
research in hand because it has to be tested
• The role of the hypothesis is to guide the researcher by restricting the
area of research and to keep him on the right track
• It sharpens his thinking and focuses attention on the more important
sides of the problem
• It also indicates the type of data required and the type of methods of
data analysis to be used
Hypothesis
• A hypothesis must
• Predict a relationship between two or more variables
• Be testable
• Be justifiable based on rationales /theory
• Be stated in declarative form (Claiming something)
Hypothesis
• Examples

• RQ: is a happy worker a productive worker?

• H1: happier workers are more productive than unhappy workers
Hypothesis
• RQ: Does increasing the happiness of workers make them more
productive
• H1: increasing the happiness of workers does not increase
productivity
Hypothesis
• Hypothesis should be developed before data are collected
Hypothesis
• Probability of research
• Nothing is certain
• Scientific truth is actually usually a statement which is most probable
given the currently known data--- within the given framework
• Statistical techniques try to help us show extent to which our results
really do support the hypothesis
Hypothesis
• A hypothesis makes a prediction of the expected outcomes in a given
situation
• Usually: How the manipulation of the independent variables will
influence the behavior of dependent variables
• The hypothesis is tested in an experiment
• Experimental design ensures that what you are doing is genuinely and
solely responsible for results
Experiment
• If experiment works, the hypothesis is shown to be probably correct
• Cant prove 100% truth
• If it fails, it could be because of
• The hypothesis is wrong
• The experimental design is faulty
Testability
• A good hypothesis is testable
• Not provable in the sense of “shown to be true” (true=certain)
• Simply refuting a hypothesis is ok but better science will explain why
hypothesis is wrong and (better still) offer an alternative hypothesis
Good hypothesis
• Concepts are clear
• Relationship (direction of experiment) is clear
• Population often included
• Design/statistical method is clear
Types of hypothesis
• Experiments are generally set up to demonstrate or support a
hypothesis
• The null hypothesis H0 is that any observed changes in behavior are
due to chance (there is no significant difference between specified
populations, any observed difference being due to sampling or
experimental error)
• The alternate hypothesis H1 is the hypothesis you are trying to prove
• Usually, the best you can do is refute H0 thus showing that H1 is
probably correct (with a measureable degree of likelihood: statistical
significance)
Types of hypothesis
• Null hypothesis: A statistical hypothesis stated specifically for testing
(which reflects no difference situation)
• Example: there is no significant difference in mean intelligence
between members of the general population and UAF students
• Alternative hypothesis: an alternative to null hypothesis that reflects
a significant difference situation
• Example: there is a significant difference in mean intelligence
between members of the general population and UAF students
Types and forms of hypothesis
• Research hypothesis
• simple declarative statement of the hypothesis guiding the research
• Example: members of the general population are less intelligent than UAF
students
• Statistical hypothesis
• A statement of hypothesis given in statistical terms
• A statement about one or more parameters that are measures of the
population under study
• A translation of the research hypothesis into a statistically meaningful
relationship
• Example: the mean intelligence of members of general population is lower
than the mean intelligence of UAF students
Types and forms of hypothesis
• Non directional hypothesis
• A hypothesis that does not imply the direction of results
• It predicts the relationship between dependent and independent variables but does
not specify the direction of relationship
• Example: teacher student relationship influences student’s learning
• Directional hypothesis
• A hypothesis that implies the direction of results
• It predicts the relationship between dependent and independent variables and also
specify the direction of relationship
• Example:
• High quality of nursing education will lead to high quality of nursing
practice skills
One and two tailed hypothesis
• One tailed hypothesis:
• Based on uni-directional hypothesis
• Example: Effect of training on learning problems using PowerPoint
presentations
• Hypothesis: Training will decrease the number of learning problems using
PowerPoint presentations
• Two tailed hypothesis: based on bi-directional hypothesis
• Hypothesis: Training will change the number of learning problems using
PowerPoint presentations
Types of hypothesis
• Simple (two variables)
• The application of P will improve yield of maize
• Complex (more than 2 variables)
• The application of P will improve root growth, soil P availability and yield of
maize
Types of hypothesis
• Causal vs Associative
• Causal
• Dieting people with formal exercise program will have greater weight loss than dieting
people without an exercise program

• Associative
• There is positive relationship between amount of exercise and weight loss among dieting
people