Hypothesis

Hypothesis

• “a tentative assumption made in order to draw out and test its logical or empirical consequences” (Merriam-Webster, 2008)

• “A hypothesis is a tentative statement that proposes a possible explanation to some phenomenon or event. A useful hypothesis is a testable statement which may include a prediction.” (http://www.accessexcellence.org/LC/TL/filson/writhypo.html)

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• “An anticipated outcome of a study or experiment” (Thomas and Nelson, 1996).

Examples• If skin cancer is related to ultraviolet light , then

people with a high exposure to uv light will have a higher frequency of skin cancer.

• People with insufficient quad strength will increase their chance of ACL injuries.

• If leaf color change is related to temperature , then exposing plants to low temperatures will result in changes in leaf color.

• The plant will grow faster if the watering frequency is increased.

Problem StatementTaken from http://web.utk.edu/~wrobinso/540_lec_problem.html

• The problem provides the context for the research study and typically generates questions which the research hopes to answer. In considering whether or not to move forward with a research project, you will generally spend some time considering the problem.

• The problem statement should "hook" the reader and establish a persuasive context for what follows.