Module – 1

Hypothesis
Introduction:
Hypothesis is usually considered as an important mechanism in Research. Hypothesis is a
tentative assumption made in order to test its logical or empirical consequences. If we go by
the origin of the word, it is derived from the Greek word- ‘hypotithenai’ meaning ‘to put under’
or to ‘to suppose’. Etymologically hypothesis is made up of two words, “hypo” and “thesis”
which means less than or less certain than a thesis. It is a presumptive statement of a proposition
or a reasonable guess, based upon the available evidence, which the researcher seeks to prove
through his study. A hypothesis will give a plausible explanation that will be tested. A
hypothesis may seem contrary to the real situation. It may prove to be correct or incorrect.
Hypothesis need to be clear and precise and capable of being tested. It is to be limited in scope
and consistent with known or established facts and should be amenable to testing within the
stipulated time. It needs to explain what it claims to explain and should have empirical
reference.

The word hypothesis is made up of two Greek roots which mean that it is some sort of ‘sub
statements’, for it is the presumptive statement of a proposition, which the investigation seeks
to prove. The scientist observes a special class of phenomena and broads over it until by a flash
of insight he perceives an order and intelligent harmony in it. This is often referred to as an
‘explanation’ of the facts he has observed. He has a ‘theory’ about particular mass of fact. This
theory when stated testable proposition formally and clearly subjected to empirical or
experimental verification is known as a hypothesis. The hypothesis furnishes the germinal basis
of the whole investigation and remains to the end its corner stone, for the whole research is
directed to test it out by facts. At the start of investigation, the hypothesis is a stimulus to critical
thoughts offers insights into the confusion of phenomena. At the end it comes to prominence
as the proposition to be accepted or rejected in the light of the findings.

Definition:
“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.” - Webster’s New International Dictionary.

“A hypothesis is a tentative generalisation the validity of which remains to be tested. In

its most elementary stage, the hypothesis may be any hunch, guess, imaginative idea which
becomes the basis for further investigation.” – Lungberg

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“It is a tentative supposition or provisional guess which seems to explain the situation
under observation.” - A.D. Carmichael

“A hypothesis states what we are looking for. A hypothesis looks forward. It is a

proposition which can be put to a test to determine its validity. It may prove to be correct or
incorrect.” - Goode and Hatt.

“A hypothesis is a statement temporarily accepted as true in the light of what is, at the
time, known about a phenomenon, and it is employed as a basis for action in the search for new
truth, when the hypothesis is fully established, it may take the form of facts, principles and
theories.” - Barr and Scates.

“It is a shrewd guess or inference that is formulated and provisionally adopted to

explain observed facts or conditions and to guide in further investigation.” - John W. Best.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A WORKABLE HYPOTHESIS:

1. Hypothesis Should Be Conceptually Clear
The concepts used in the hypothesis should be clearly defined, not only formally but
also, if possibly, operationally. Formal definition of the concepts will clarify what a
particular concept stands for, while the operational definition will leave no ambiguity
about what would constitute the empirical evidence or indicator of the concept on the
plane of reality. Obviously, an undefined or ill-defined concept makes it difficult or
rather impossible for the researcher to test his hypothesis as there will not be any
standard basis for him to know the observable facts. However, a researcher, while
defining concepts, should use, as far as possible, the terms that are communicable or
definitions that are commonly accepted. It should be stated as far as possible in most
simple terms so that it can be easily understandable to all concerned. He should not
create ‘a private world of words.

2. Hypothesis Should Be Specific

A hypothesis should be couched in specific terms. No vague or value-judgmental terms
should be used in formulation of a hypothesis. It should specifically state the posited
relationship between the variables. It should include a clear statement of all the

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predictions and operations indicated therein and they should be precisely spelled out.
Specific formulation of a hypothesis assures that research is practicably significant. It
helps to increase the validity of results because the more specific the statement or
prediction, the smaller the probability that it will actually be borne out as a result of
mere accident or chance. A researcher, therefore, must remember that narrower
hypothesis is generally more testable and he should develop such a hypothesis.

3. Hypothesis Should Be Empirically Testable

A hypothesis, as, stated earlier, should be formulated in such a way that it should
possibly be to empirically verifiable. It should have empirical referents so that it will
be possible to deduce certain logical deductions and inferences about it. Such
statements as ‘pigs are well named because they are so dirty’ can hardly be usable
hypothesis as they do not have any empirical referents for testing their validity.

4. Hypothesis Should Be Related to Available Techniques

A hypothesis needs to be empirically tested. This requirement obviously makes it
necessary that a hypothesis should be related to available techniques of data collection.
A researcher who does not know what techniques are available to him to test his
hypothesis cannot test his hypothesis. His ignorance of the available techniques, makes
him weak in formulating a workable hypothesis.

5. Hypothesis Should Be Related to A Body of Theory or Theoretical Orientation

It is needless to re-emphasize here that a researcher, through testing his hypothesis,
intends to contribute to the existing fact, theory or science. While formulating his
hypothesis, he has to take a serious pause to see the possible theoretical gains of testing
the hypothesis. A hypothesis, if tested, helps to qualify, support, correct or refute an
existing theory, only if it is related to some theory or has some theoretical orientation.

FUNCTIONS
The following are the main functions of hypothesis in the research process suggested by H.H.
Mc Ashan:
1. It is a temporary solution of a problem concerning with some truth, which enables an
investigator to start his research work.

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2. It offers a basis in establishing the specifics what to study for and may provide possible
solutions to the problem.
3. Each hypothesis may lead to formulate another hypothesis.
4. A preliminary hypothesis may take the shape of final hypothesis.
5. Each hypothesis provides the investigator with definite statement which may be
objectively tested and accepted or rejected and leads for interpreting results and
drawing conclusions that is related to original purpose.

The functions of a hypothesis may be condensed into three. The following are the threefold
functions of a hypothesis:
a) To delimit the field of the investigation.
b) To sensitize the researcher so that he should work selectively, and have very realistic
approach to the problem.
c) To offer the simple means for collecting evidences to the verification.

TYPES OF HYPOTHESIS:
For the purpose of testing statistical significance, hypotheses are concisely classified into two
types:
1. Null Hypothesis: A null hypothesis is a statement that there is no actual relationship
between variables. (Ho or HN). The final conclusion of the investigator will either
retain a null hypothesis or reject a null hypothesis in favor of an alternative hypothesis.
Not rejecting Ho does not really mean that Ho is true. There might not be enough
evidence against Ho. Once the null hypothesis has been stated, it is easy to construct
the alternative hypothesis. It is essentially the statement that the null hypothesis is false.
Example can be “There is no significant difference in the anxiety level of children of
High IQ and those of low IQ.
2. Alternate Hypothesis: An alternative hypothesis is a statement that suggests a
potential outcome that the researcher may expect. (H1 or HA). It is established only
when a null hypothesis is rejected. Often an alternative Hypothesis is the desired
conclusion of the investigator. The two types of alternative hypothesis are:
A. Directional Hypothesis and
B. Non-directional Hypothesis.

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Directional Hypothesis is a type of alternative hypothesis that specifies the direction of
expected findings. Sometimes directional hypotheses are created to examine the
relationship among variables rather than to compare groups. Directional hypothesis
may read, “…is more than..”, “…will be lesser..” Example can be “Children with high
IQ will exhibit more anxiety than children with low IQ”.

Non-directional Hypothesis is a type of alternative hypothesis in which no definite

direction of the expected findings is specified. The researcher may not know what can
be predicted from the past literature. It may read, “..there is a difference between..”
Example can be “There is a difference in the anxiety level of the children of high IQ
and those of low IQ.”

Hypothesis may broadly be classified as working hypothesis, research hypothesis, null

hypothesis, statistical hypothesis, alternative hypothesis and scientific hypothesis.

1. Working Hypothesis: Working hypothesis is a preliminary assumption of the

researcher about the research topic, particularly when sufficient information is not
available to establish a hypothesis, and as a step towards formulating the final research
hypothesis. Working hypotheses are used to design the final research plan, to place the
research problem in its right context and to reduce the research topic to an acceptable
size.

2. Scientific Hypothesis: Scientific hypothesis contains statement based on or derived

from sufficient theoretical and empirical data.

3. Alternative Hypothesis: Alternative hypothesis is a set of two hypothesis (research

and null) which states the opposite of the null hypothesis. In statistical tests of null
hypothesis, acceptance of Ho (null hypothesis) means rejection of the alternative
hypothesis; and rejection of Ho means similarly acceptance of the alternative
hypothesis.

4. Research Hypothesis: Research hypothesis is a researcher’s proposition about some

social fact without reference to its particular attributes. Researcher believes that it is
true and wants that it should be disproved, e.g., Muslims have more children than

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Hindus, or drug abuse is found among upper-class students living in hostels or rented
rooms. Research hypothesis may be derived from theories or may result in developing
of theories.

5. Null Hypothesis: Null hypothesis is reverse of research hypothesis. It is a hypothesis

of no relationship. Null hypothesis does not exist in reality but are used to test research
hypothesis.

6. Statistical Hypothesis: Statistical hypothesis, according to Winter, is a

statement/observation about statistical populations that one seeks to support or refute.
The things are reduced to numerical quantities and decisions are made about these
quantities, e.g., income difference between two groups: group A is richer than group B.
Null hypothesis will be: group A is not richer than group B. Here, variables are reduced
to measurable quantities.