HYPOTHESIS

Definition of Hypothesis

What is hypothesis? A hypothesis is a tentative explanation or an answer to a question about

variables, their relationships, and other facts involved in the research. A research always ends up with a
result . However, you are free t hypothesize; meaning, to infer, propose, or guess about factual things
related to the research. It is an inferential thinking that makes you guess something based not only on
whatever experience or factual knowledge you have about such thing but also on conclusions that were
logically drawn by other research studies. A hypothesis has to be tested through analytical investigation
prove how true or false it is. (Creswell 2014; Russell 2013)

Purpose of Hypothesis

Some researcher find hypotheses essential because of the following reasons:

1. The guide on which aspect of the research to focus on.

2. They provide opportunities to prove the relationship between variables.

3. They give the right direction of the research.

4. They outline your thoughts on your manner of summarizing the results and of
explaining the conclusions.

5. They push for an empirical study to prove the existence of relationship of variables and the
effects of independent variable on the dependent variable.

Hypothesis vs. Research Questions

In an experimental research that takes place in a scientific method, one of your initial acts is
formulating these two: research question and hypotheses. Both are related to your research but they are
not exactly the same. Their difference lies in the amount of stock knowledge you have about to focus of
your study. If you know much about the variables or have a lot of knowledge about other factual
formulate hypotheses. Otherwise, from research question. At any rate, the purpose of thesr two forms
of iferential thinking is to purposr possible or probable answers or solutions to the research problem
focused on by the study. The result of your research or invesstigation prove whether the hypothesis are
correct, incorrecy, or partially correct. (Schreiber 2012)
Categories of Hypotheses

There are two categories of hypotheses: null hypotheses and alternative hypotheses. A null
hypotheses symbolized by Ho, which state the absence of relationship between the independent and
dependent variables. It is therefore a statement to disapprove the fact that the independent variable
(treatment, intervention, or condition) has an effect on the dependent variable. The opposite of null
hypothesis is the alternative hypothesis. Symbolized by Hi, the alternative hypothesis states the
relationship between the independent and the dependent variables and the fact that the first affects the
second one. (Morgan 2014; Thomas 2013)

Types of Hypotheses

Choosing which type of hypothesis to be depends sole on you, the researcher. It does not mean,
however that choosing one of the following types of hypotheses make you come out with the best
hypothesis because no type of hypothesis is superior to any hypothesis. (Badke 2012; Morgan 2014)

1. Theory-driven vs. Data-driven hypotheses

A hypothesis that is based on existing theory to explain the relationship of variables and the effects of
the one variable on the other variables is theory-driven. But if it is based on the findings of previous
research studies, it is a data-driven hypothesis.

2. Directional (one-tailed) vs. Non-directional (two-tailed) hypotheses

Directional hypotheses state the relationship of two variables as well as of the relationship of these
variables. Non-directional hypotheses, on the other hand, state the relationship of variables but not on
the direction of the relationship.

3. Descriptive vs. Causal hypotheses

A statement specifying the relationship between two variables due to the influence of something is a
descriptive hypothesis; due to cause-effect relationship, it is a causal hypothesis. True experimental or
quasi-experimental research such as a correlation study uses causal hypotheses; non-experimental
research uses descriptive hypotheses.

Guidelines in Formulating Hypotheses

The craft in hypotheses formulation requires you think of the following pointers (Mc Bride 2013;
Lapan 2012):

1. Express your hypotheses in a declarative sentence.

2. Support your hypotheses with ideas based on theories, known facts, previous studies,
 Or your own experience and wisdom.

3. Establish a logical relationship between the hypotheses and the research problem.

4. Have your hypotheses predict the nature of relationship between or among variables.

5. Ascertain the possibility of having some means of testing, analyzing, and investigating

Hypotheses.

6. Avoid wordiness by using clear, exact, or specific language in stating the hypotheses.

Concept Explanation

Activity 1: Class Inquiry

Directions: WHOLE CLASS ACTIVITY. Take turns in asking questions about the text on

Hypotheses. Questions and answers reflecting HOTS (higher-order thinking strategies of

Interpreting, criticizing, applying, and creating) will merit higher recitation grade.

Activity 2

Directions: Answer each question intelligently and concisely.

1. Why is a hypothesis a tentative explanation of something?

2. Is hypothesizing an example of HOTS? Why? Why not?

3. How do you formulate hypotheses?

4. Describe the relationship between hypotheses and research questions.

5. In research, what is the appropriate research time for hypotheses formulation?

Explain your answer.

6. Should every research be provided with hypotheses? Give reasons for

Your answer.

7. Can any researcher formulate hypotheses? Why? Why not?

8. How do you determine the quality of hypotheses?

9. If you were to advise your friend on hypotheses formulation, what would

 You tell him/her?

10. Formulate hypotheses about the hottest issue in town.

Concept Elaboration

Activity 1

Directions: INDIVIDUAL WORK. Complete this bubble graph with the right words

to indicate hypotheses classification.

Categories
of
Nature of
Hypothesis
Relationshi
p

Varieties of Source of
Hypotheses Hypothesis

Course of
Relationship
 Activity 2

Directions: Check the right column to indicate your judgement of the quality of the given hypotheses.

Hypotheses Good Bad Reasons, Comments

1. Can the results of the

survey discourage candidate
Garcia’s supporters?

2. A survey to get the voters,

election preferences could
indicate Garcia’s winnable
stand.

3. The survey results do not

indicate a candidate’s
chances to win.

4. Definitely, God will make

candidates Garcia win in the
election.

5. Lot of vote buying in Sta.

Fe made Garcia lose his
candidacy.

ACTIVITY 3

Directions: Write Ho on the line if the statement is a null hypothesis on the given research problem; Hi,
if it is an alternative hypotheses; and X if it is not a hypotheses.

Quantitative Research Problem: In what order should the 18 senatorial candidates be ranked on the
basis of their experience on legal management?

_____________1. One-half of the senatorial candidates are knowledgeable about law.

_____________2. Two-thirds of the senatorial candidates have no knowledge about law.

_____________3. Being lawyers means having rich background knowledge on law.

_____________4. The lone lawyer among the candidates will be ranked one.

_____________5. The only lawyer in the group will not be number one in the rank.

Concept-Learning Assessment

Check the column that speaks of the extent of learning you have had about hypotheses.

Concepts Stron Agree Undecided Disagree Strongly

gly disagree
agree

1. You can very well

compare and
contrast the types of
hypothesis

2. You know very

well how to
formulate excellent
hypothesis.

3. You have learned

very well why you
have to formulate
hypotheses.

4. You have leaned

very well the
difference between
hypotheses and
research question.

5. You have learned

very well the
difference between
null hypotheses and
alternative
hypotheses.