The Hypothesis in Quantitative Research

DefinitionPresents the researcher’s expectations about the relationship between variables within the question.

PurposesBrings together information to enable the researcher to make a tentative statement about how the variables in the study may be related.Because it proposes tentative explanation for phenomena, they stimulate a research endeavor that results in the accumulation of new knowledge.

Provides the investigator with a relational statement that is directly testable in a research study.Provides direction to the research.Provides a framework for reporting the findings and conclusions of the study.

Characteristics of a Usable Hypothesis

States the expected relationship between variables.Must be testable.Should be consistent with the existing body of knowledge.Should be stated as simply and concisely as possible.

Types of HypothesesDirectional vs. non-directional hypothesis

Directional Hº is stated when one has some basis for predicting a change in a stated direction.Non-directional states that a relationship or difference exists but without specifying the direction or nature of the unexpected finding

Null vs. alternativeNull Hº makes a prediction that in the general population, no significant relationship exists between the groups on a variable.Alternative Hº is the opposite of the null hypothesis

Sample Null Hypotheses1. There is no significant difference between

the effects of verbal cues, rewards and no reinforcement in terms of social interaction for children with autism and their siblings.

2. There is no relationship between utilization of ancillary support services and academic persistence for non-traditional-aged women college students.

3. There is no relationship between family support systems and academic persistence for non-traditional-aged college women.

Sample Directional Hypotheses

Study: to explore the differences as domestic market dominance, international presence, and customer orientation.

1. Publicly traded firms will have higher growth rates than privately held firms.

2. Publicly traded enterprises will have a larger international scope than state-owned and privately held firms.

3. State-owned firms will have a greater share of the domestic market than publicly traded or privately held firms.

4. Publicly traded firms will have broader product lines than state owned and privately held firms.

5. State-owned firms are more likely to have state-owned enterprises as customers overseas.

6. State-owned firms will have a higher customer-base stability than privately held firms.

7. IN less visible contexts, publicly traded firms will employ more advanced technology than state-owned and privately held firms.

Non-Directional and Directional Hypotheses

Study: To determine the meaning of gender identity for religious and secular Jewish and Arab women in Israeli society.

1. Gender identity of religious and secular Arab and Jewish women are related to different sociopolitical social orders that reflect the different value systems they embrace.

2. Religious women with salient gender identity are less socio-politically active than secular women with salient gender identities.

3. The relationship among gender identity, religiosity, and social actions are weaker among Arab women than among Jewish women.

THE RESEARCH QUESTION

Descriptive Questions1. How do students rate on critical

thinking skills?2. What are the students’ achievement

levels in science classes?3. What are the student’s prior grades

in science classes?4. What is the educational attainment

of the parents of the eighth graders?

Inferential Questions1. Does critical thinking ability relate

to student achievement?2. Does critical thinking ability relate

to student achievement, controlling for the effects of prior grades in science and the educational attainment of the eighth-graders’ parents?