What is a hypothesis?

• A hunch…
• An educated guess…
Constructing Hypotheses • An assumption…
• A suspicion…
• An idea… … about a phenomenon,
Lecture 6
relationship, or situation.
Of course, this assumes
you don’t actually know
K. Liszka, The University of Akron the answer a priori!!!
3460:598 Research Methodology

Hypothesis Function of a Hypothesis

• You don’t actually have to have one, but
• A tentative proposition it’s a good idea.
• Its validity is unknown. • It helps you focus your research.
• In most cases, it specifies a relationship • It can tell you what data to collect.
between two or more variables. • As well as what NOT to collect sometimes.
• It can help you be more objective.
• You may be • It can help you formulate a theory.
– right • It helps you decide what you are trying to
– partially right prove true or false (if that’s applicable).
– totally wrong.
It usually is, in one sense or another.

Characteristics of a Hypothesis Characteristics of a Hypothesis

• A hypothesis should be simple, specific and
conceptually clear.
– Don’t be ambiguous. • It should be operationalisable (can you
– Test only one relationship at a time or your results spell that word?).
may be tainted.
– Make sure you are familiar with the subject area. – This means it can be expressed in terms that
• It should be capable of verification. can be measured.
– If you can’t prove it, there isn’t much point from the – If it cannot be measured, it cannot be tested.
scientific point of view.
– And hence, no conclusions can be drawn.
• A hypothesis should be related to the existing
body of knowledge.
– Research should have its roots in existing knowledge
and add to that.

1
 Variables
• Formalized hypotheses typically contain
two variables.
• One is "independent" and the other is
"dependent."
• The independent variable is the one you,
the researcher, control.
• The dependent variable is the one that you
observe and/or measure the results.
Null Hypothesis (H0)
• Represents a theory that has been put forward, either
because it is believed to be true or because it is to be
used as a basis for argument, but has not been proved.
• For example, in a clinical trial of a new drug, the null
hypothesis might be that the new drug is no better, on
average, than the current drug. We would write
– H0: there is no difference between the two drugs on average.
Alternate Hypotheses (H1)
• It’s kind of the “bummer” route.
• It’s main function is to explicitly specify the relationship
that will be considered as true in cas the research
hypothesis proves to be wrong.

• Hypothesis of Difference Error in Testing a Hypothesis

– The researcher stipulates that there will be a
difference, but does not specify its magnitude.
• the study design selected is faulty
• Hypothesis of Point-Prevalence
• the sampling procedure adopted is faulty
– If the research has some knowledge, the
hypothesis may be refined and an outcome • the method of data collection is inaccurate
predicted. • the analysis is wrong
• Hypothesis of Association • the statistical procedures applied are
– Again, some knowledge is available a priori, inappropriate
but in this case, the formulation of the • the conclusions drawn are incorrect
hypothesis is based on a relationship.

rejection of a null hypothesis when it is true References

true false 1. Research Methodology: A Step-by-Step
Guide for Beginnners, Ranjit Kumar,
correct Chapter 6 (course text)
accept Type I error
decision 2. http://www.accessexcellence.org/LC/TL/fi
falsepositive
lson/writhypo.php
Type II error correct 3. http://www.stats.gla.ac.uk/steps/glossary/
reject decision
falsenegative hypothesis_testing.html
4. www.clipart.com – paid subscription
acceptance of a null hypothesis when it is false 11/14/2008-11/14/2009