Libyan Academy Life Science Department

Research Methodology
4- Hypothesis

Spring 2024

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 Hypothesis
Definition ; A hypothesis is an assumption or perhaps a tentative
explanation for a specific process or phenomenon that has
been observed during research. Very often, a hypothesis and a
guess are treated the same. However, a hypothesis is a
calculated and educated guess proven or disproven through
research methods.

Based on the facts and evidence you gather during research, you
can transform an initial research question into a logical &
rational prediction i.e. the hypothesis. Every research is
conducted to solve a specific problem. To fulfil that, one has
to undertake the route of problem identification, conduct
initial research and then, figure out the answer by performing
various experiments and observing its outcome.
However, before conducting the experiments or the surveys related
to the research, you must understand and acknowledge what you
expect from the results.
At this point, you are supposed to make your educated and calculated hypothesis
and translate it into a scientific statement that you will be either proving or
refuting within the course of your study.

A hypothesis reflects your understanding of the problem statement

and as a form of development of knowledge. Therefore, you
need to articulate your hypothesis in a way that should appear as
a justifiable assumption to study the properties and causes of the
phenomenon in the research topic.

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Characteristics and Sources of Hypotheses :

Now that you have gained pretty much an idea about a

hypothesis, it's time that you understand its characteristics.

 A research hypothesis has to be simple yet clear to look

reliable and justifiable enough.
 It has to be precise about the results.
 A research hypothesis should be written in a self-explanatory
manner with its significance staying intact.
 If you are developing a relational hypothesis, you need to
include the variables and establish an appropriate
relationship among them.
 A hypothesis must keep and reflect the scope for further
investigations and experiments.
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Similar to the characteristics of a research hypothesis, there exist many
sources through which you can hypothesize your research problem.
The primary sources that you can refer to while creating a
hypothesis for your research are :
➢ Scientific paper and theories from the domain of your research topic.
➢ Observations from previous experiments and recent theories
➢ A general paradigm that runs through the research domain of a
specific topic.
➢ Resemblance and relativity among various research topics.
While going through these sources, you must ensure all the sources
are credible and scholarly.
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Types of Hypotheses

To create a good hypothesis, you need to understand the

concept of hypotheses completely. Therefore, before
starting to write, it is important that you first understand
the different types of hypotheses.
Majorly, there exist only two types, i.e., the Alternative
hypothesis and Null Hypothesis.

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Types of Hypotheses
1. Alternative Hypothesis : in the academic domain, it is very
often denoted as H1. The significance of this kind is to
identify the expected outcome of your research procedure.
Additionally, it is further classified into two subcategories :
a. Directional: A statement that defines the ways through
which the expected results will be gathered. It is generally
used in the cases where you need to establish a
relationship between various variables rather than making
any comparison between multiple groups.
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b. No directional : A statement that defines the ways through
which the expected results As the name suggests, a non-
directional alternative hypothesis doesn't suggest any
direction for the expected outcomes. For
example, Attending physiotherapy sessions influence the
on-field performance of athletes.
Now in the above two examples, carefully observe the two
statements. The directional statement specifies that
physiotherapy sessions will improve or boost performance.
On the other hand, the non-directional statement helps establish
a correlation between the two variables (physiotherapy
sessions and performance). However, it does not emphasize
whether the performance will be good or bad due to
physiotherapy sessions.
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2. Null Hypothesis
A null hypothesis is denoted as H0. A null hypothesis
exists as opposed to an alternative hypothesis. It is
a statement that defines the opposite of the expected
results or outcomes throughout your research. In
simpler terms, a null hypothesis is used to establish
a claim that no relationship exists between the variables
defined in the hypothesis.
To give you an idea about how to write a null hypothesis,
the last example can be stated as: 9
2. Null Hypothesis (how to write)
The physiotherapy sessions do not affect athletes' on-
field performance.
Both the null and alternative hypotheses are written to
provide specific clarifications and examination of the
research problem. So, to clarify confusion, the
difference between a research problem statement and
a hypothesis is that the former is just a question that can't
be validated or tested. In contrast, the latter can be
tested, validated, or denied. 10
3. Simple Hypothesis
It is a statement that is made to reflect the relation between the
dependent and independent variables. Follow through the
example, and you will understand,
a. Smoking is a prominent cause of lung cancer
b. Intake of sugar-rich foods can lead to obesity
4. Complex Hypothesis
A complex hypothesis implies the relationship between multiple
dependent or independent variables stated in the research
problem. Follow through the below examples for better clarity
on this:
a. Individuals who eat more fruits tend to have higher
immunity, lesser cholesterol, and high metabolism.
b. Including short breaks during work hours can lead to higher
concentration and boost productivity.
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5. Empirical Hypothesis.

It is also referred to as the "Working Hypothesis." This

type of claim is made when a theory is being validated
through an experiment and observation. This way, the
statement appears justifiable enough and different from a
wild guess.

Here are a few examples through which you can learn to

create an empirical hypothesis:
a. Women who take iron tablets face a lesser risk of
anemia than those women who take vitamin B12.
b. Canines learn faster if they are provided with food
immediately after they obey a command.
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6. Statistical Hypothesis
A statement claiming an explanation after studying a sample of
the population is called a statistical hypothesis. It is a type of
logic-based analysis where you research a specific population
and gather evidence through a particular sample size.
Below are some hypothetical statistical statements to understand
how you can conduct your research leveraging statistical data :
a. 44% of the Indian population belong in the age group of 22-
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b. 47% of the rural population in India is involved in agro-based
activities. 13
Difference between Hypothesis and Prediction

Hypothesis and prediction are very often used

interchangeably, and that creates confusion. Although
both the hypothesis and prediction can be treated as
guesses, there lies much difference between the two
terms. Since we are talking about research hypotheses
and in the context of the academic domain, the words
bear much relevance here.
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Difference between Hypothesis and Prediction

Therefore it is forbidden to use hypotheses for prediction

or otherwise.
So, the significant difference between a hypothesis and a
prediction is that the first is predominantly used in the
academic world related to research on various topics. In
contrast, prediction can be used anywhere and need not
be validated, defined, or tested.
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In simpler terms, a hypothesis is a calculated, intelligent
assumption tested and validated through research. It aims
to analyze the gathered evidence and facts to define a
relationship between variables and put forth a logical
explanation behind the nature of events.
On the other hand, predictions are vague assumptions or
claims made without backing data or evidence. You can
test it and have to wait to check if the prediction will
become true or not. Although a prediction can be even
scientific majorly, it is seen that predictions are somewhat
fictional, not based on data or facts. Predictions are more
often observed as a foretelling of any future event that may
or may not ever happen.
To emphasize in a better manner the difference between a
hypothesis and a prediction, follow through the below-
mentioned example: 16
Hypothesis:
Having smaller and frequent meals can lead to a higher
metabolism rate. This is a pure scientific hypothesis
based on previous knowledge and the trends that have
been observed in many individuals. Additionally, it can
be tested by putting some individuals under
observation.

Prediction:
There will be zero COVID-19 cases in the world by 2030.
Now, this is a prediction. Even though it is based on
definite facts and the trends of past results, it can't be
tested with certainty for success or failure. So the only
way this gets validated is to wait and watch if the covid
cases end by 2030. 17
How to Write a Hypothesis?
Attentively follow through the below-mentioned steps that you
can leverage to create a compelling hypothesis for your
research.
1. Identify and Clearly Describe your Research Question
A hypothesis should be written in a way that should address the
research question or the problem statement. You first need to
understand the constraints of your undertaken research topic
and then formulate a clear, simple, and topic-centered
problem statement. Once you have the problem statement,
you can ask the right question to test the validity of the
problem statement or research question. For answering a
research question, there should be a hypothetical statement
that you should prove through your research.
For example: How does attending physiotherapy sessions can
affect an athlete's on-field performance? 18
2. Carry Out an Initial Preliminary Research.

At this stage, you need to go through the previous theories,

academic papers, and previous studies and experiments
to start curating your research hypothesis. Next, you
must gather evidence and prepare a research
methodology to carry out your experiments. Here itself,
try figuring out the answer to the research question.

You need to design a conceptual and rational framework to

identify which variables.
(both dependent and independent) over which your
hypothesis will focus. Additionally, you need to discover
the relationship between various variables.
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3. Make the First Draft of your Hypothesis
After undertaking and finalizing the initial research, you
will get an idea about the expected outcomes and
results. Leveraging this, you need to create a simple,
concise, and first version of your hypothesis.
Depending upon the chosen research domain and its
topic, you can rephrase the answer to the problem
statement via a hypothesis in specific ways.

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3. Make the First Draft of your Hypothesis
For example:
a. Non- directional : Attending physiotherapy
sessions will influence the on-field performance
of athletes.
b. Directional: Attending physiotherapy sessions
will boost the on-field performance of athletes.
c. Null: Attending physiotherapy sessions will not
affect the on-field performance of athletes.
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4. Skim your Hypothesis
After preparing the first draft of your hypothesis, you need
to check whether the hypothesis addresses the problem
statement or not. You need to ensure that the hypothesis
statement is straightforward-focused on the research
topic and is testable. To further refine your first draft of
the hypothesis, you must check the presence of some
aspects in your hypothesis:
a. It has clear, relevant, and defined variables.
b. An appropriate relationship exists between the
variables.
c. It is accurate and signifies its capacity to go under
testing and validation.
d. It must showcase a specific result or outcome through
certain experiments. 22
5. Create a 3-Dimensional Phrase of your Hypothesis
Statement
To appropriately recognize the various variables to be used, you
can write the hypothetical assumption in the "if..then" form.
Here, you must ensure that the first part of the hypothesis
should contain the independent variable and the second part
should contain the dependent variable.
For example, if athletes start attending physiotherapy
sessions, then their on-field performance will improve.
It's common in the academic domain to present the hypothesis
in terms of correlation and its effects. If you choose to use
this form of phrase as a research hypothesis, make sure that
you state the predefined relationship between the variables.
For example, Attending physiotherapy sessions lead to the
better on-field performance of athletes.
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6. Create a Null Hypothesis
If your research procedure involves some statistical
hypothesis testing, you need to provide a null
hypothesis statement. As previously discussed, a
null hypothesis is used to represent or show no
relation between different variables.
For example, attending physiotherapy sessions does
not affect the on-field performance of athletes.

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Quick Tips on How to Write a Hypothesis
Follow the below-mentioned points to find some pro tips
that you must keep in mind for writing a good
hypothesis :
1. Always try to create a hypothesis that interestingly
addresses the problem statement.
2. Keep the hypothesis statement short yet entirely
focused over the problem statement phrased in an
utmost clear and concise manner.
3. Make sure the initial research has been done
thoroughly, and you have gone through all the relevant
scholarly sources related to your chosen research topic.
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Quick Tips on How to Write a Hypothesis
4. Accurately define the variables that you will be using in
the hypothesis, and through the course of the research,
5. Always keep your audience in your mind while creating
any statements or paraphrasing any related theories.
In academia, the audience being the researchers and
scholars, bear the knowledge of the relationship that
exists between various phenomena and experiments.

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 A hypothesis is just a statement representing
your understanding of the answer to the
problem statement of the research.

 It showcases how you will proceed with the

experiments to test the hypothesis and interpret
the expected outcome.

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 Thank you
For your Attention

Any questions

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