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Chapter 6 Constructing Hypotheses PDF

The document discusses hypotheses, including: 1. A hypothesis brings clarity, focus, and specificity to a research problem but is not essential. It predicts a relationship between two or more variables. 2. While not required, a hypothesis serves important functions like providing focus on what data to collect. It can help objectivity and contribute to theory. 3. To test a hypothesis requires constructing it, gathering evidence, and analyzing evidence to conclude if the hypothesis is true or false. The study design and data collection must be valid and free of bias.

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456 views19 pages

Chapter 6 Constructing Hypotheses PDF

The document discusses hypotheses, including: 1. A hypothesis brings clarity, focus, and specificity to a research problem but is not essential. It predicts a relationship between two or more variables. 2. While not required, a hypothesis serves important functions like providing focus on what data to collect. It can help objectivity and contribute to theory. 3. To test a hypothesis requires constructing it, gathering evidence, and analyzing evidence to conclude if the hypothesis is true or false. The study design and data collection must be valid and free of bias.

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khafid ridlo
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CHAPTER 6

Constructing Hypotheses
In this chapter you will learn about:
 The definition of a hypothesis
 The functions of a hypothesis in your research
 How hypotheses are tested
 How to formulate a hypothesis
 Different types of hypotheses and their applications
 How errors in the testing of a hypothesis can occur
 The use of hypotheses in qualitative research
The definition of a hypothesis

The second important consideration in the


formulation of a research problem in
quantitative research is the construction of a
hypothesis.
Hypotheses bring clarity, specificity and focus
to a research problem, but are not essential for
a study.
You can conduct a valid investigation without
constructing a single formal hypothesis.
On the other hand, within the context of
a research study, you can construct as
many hypotheses as you consider to be
appropriate.
Some believe that one must formulate a
hypothesis to undertake an investigation;
however, the author does not hold this
opinion.
Hypotheses primarily arise from a set of
‘hunches’ that are tested through a study
and one can conduct a perfectly valid
study without having these hunches or
speculations.
However, in epidemiological studies, to
narrow the field of investigation, it is
important to formulate hypotheses.
The importance of hypotheses lies in
their ability to bring direction,
specificity and focus to a research
study.
They tell a researcher
what specific information to collect,
and
thereby provide greater focus.
There are many definitions of a
hypothesis.
According to Kerlinger, ‘A
hypothesis is a conjectural
statement of the relationship
between two or more variables’
(1986: 17).
Webster’s Third New International
Dictionary (1976) defines a hypothesis as:
a proposition, condition, or principle which
is assumed, perhaps without belief, in order
to draw out its logical consequences and by
this method to test its accord with facts
which are known or may be determined.
Black and Champion define a
hypothesis as ‘a tentative statement
about something, the validity of which is
usually unknown’ (1976: 126).
In another definition, Bailey defines a
hypothesis as: a proposition that is
stated in a testable form and that
predicts a particular relationship between
two (or more) variables (1978: 35).
According to Grinnell:
A hypothesis is written in such a way
that it can be proven or disproven by
valid and reliable data – it is in order to
obtain these data that we perform our
study. (1988: 200)
From the above definitions it is apparent
that a hypothesis has certain
characteristics:
1. It is a tentative proposition.
2. Its validity is unknown.
3. In most cases, it specifies a relationship
between two or more variables.
The functions of a hypothesis

While some researchers believe that to


conduct a study requires a hypothesis,
having a hypothesis is not essential as
already mentioned.
However, a hypothesis is important in
terms of bringing clarity to the research
problem.
Specifically, a hypothesis serves the following
functions:
The formulation of a hypothesis provides a
study with focus. It tells you what specific
aspects of a research problem to investigate.
A hypothesis tells you what data to collect and
what not to collect, thereby providing focus to
the study.
As it provides a focus, the construction of a
hypothesis enhances objectivity in a study.
A hypothesis may enable you to add to the
formulation of theory. It enables you to
conclude specifically what is true or what is
false.
The testing of a hypothesis

To test a hypothesis you need to go


through a process that comprises three
phases:
(1) constructing a hypothesis;
(2) gathering appropriate evidence; and
(3) analysing evidence to draw
conclusions as to its validity.
When concluding about a hypothesis,
conventionally, you specifically make a
statement about the correctness or otherwise
of a hypothesis in the form of ‘the hypothesis is
true’ or ‘the hypothesis is false’.
It is therefore imperative that you formulate
your hypotheses clearly, precisely and in a
form that is testable.
In arriving at a conclusion about the validity of
your hypothesis, the way you collect your
evidence is of central importance and it is
therefore essential that your study design,
sample, data collection method(s), data
analysis and conclusions, and communication
of the conclusions be valid, appropriate and
free from any bias.
The process of testing a hypothesis

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