Hypothesisdefine and purpose

Part 1

define and purpose

What is a hypothesis?

• A hypothesis is a prediction of some sort regarding the possible outcomes of a study.

An example:

Research question: Does training staff in change management help staff to cope with change in their organizations?Hypothesis: Staff trained in change management copes easily with change in their organizations.

ExplainThis hypothesis predicts that the staffs that undergo training in change management can easily cope with changes that might occur in their organizations than perhaps the staff that have not been trained in change management.

Functions of Hypotheses Hypothesis can provide direction to the research. A hypothesis contains several concepts which are logically connected or arranged. The interrelationships among the concepts give a clear answer to the problem under study.

1. Hypothesis can explain all the facts connected with it.2. Hypothesis helps us to provide direction to the research. A researcher can

decide what data are to be collected for the study on the basis of the hypothesis.

3. Hypothesis helps us to provide directions to the research. A researcher can decide what data are to be collected for the study on the basis of the hypothesis.

4. Hypothesis prevents us from blind search. Hypothesis helps us to search only for relevant facts. So it is helping us to save money and time.

5. Hypothesis can place clear and specific goals before the researcher.6. Hypothesis acts as a guide to collect the relevant data related to the problem.

Cont.

A hypothesis can suggest the expected relationships between two or more variables. If A and B are two variables a hypothesis states the possible relationship between A and B. This means that a hypothesis must have two or more variables and it should reveal how the variables are related to each other.

Features of a good hypothesis 1. A hypothesis must be conceptually clear. All the concepts used in a

hypothesis must be clearly defined. 2. A hypothesis must be empirically testable. Concepts which do not

have empirical basis must not be included in a hypothesis. 3. A hypothesis must be specific and precise. The possible relationships

among the variables must be precisely stated in a hypothesis. 4. A hypothesis should be consistent with known facts.5. A hypothesis must have a theoretical orientation. A good hypothesis

must be able to support or refute (deny) an existing theory of social relations.

6. A hypothesis must be clear, definite and stated in a simple manner.7. A hypothesis must have reasonable explanation to any problem in the

present state of knowledge.

Characteristics of a good hypothesis

A good hypothesis should fulfill three conditions. They are:

1. It must be adequate for its purpose.2. It must be testable.3. It must be better than its rivals.

adequate for its purpose

That is, it must clearly state the conditions, size or distribution of some variable in terms of values meaningful to the research task if it a descriptive hypothesis. If it is an explanatory hypothesis, it must explain the facts that give rise to the need for explanation. Therefore, using the hypothesis, one should be able to deduce the original problem condition.

testable

If a hypothesis cannot be testable with the existing techniques or it defies all the known physical or psychological laws, then it is not good.

better than its rivals

That is it must be able to explain the phenomenon with more facts and with greater variety of facts than do others. It is a better hypothesis if it is simple and if it requires few condition or assumptions.

Advantages

1. A hypothesis forces us to think more deeply and specifically about the possible outcomes of a study. It enables us to understand what the question implies and exactly what variables are involved.

2. if one is attempting to build a body of knowledge in addition to answering a specific question, then stating hypothesis is a good strategy because it enables one to make specific predictions based on prior evidence or theoretical argument.

3. Hypothesis stating helps us to see if we are or are not investigating a relationship.

Disadvantages

1. Stating a hypothesis may lead to a bias, either consciously or unconsciously, on the part of the researcher. This is because the researcher may be tempted to arrange the procedures or manipulate the data in such a way as to bring about a desired outcome. This depends on the honesty of the researchers.

2. Stating hypothesis may sometimes be unnecessary, or even inappropriate, in certain research projects of certain types i.e., descriptive or ethnographic studies.

3. Stating hypothesis may prevent researchers from noticing other phenomena that might be important to study.

Part 2

Types of Hypothesis (3.3.2)

Directional versus Unidirectional hypothesis or (Relational Hypothesis)

• A directional hypothesis is one in which the specific direction (such as higher, lower, more or less) that a researcher expects to emerge in a relationship is indicated. The particular direction expected is based on what the researcher has found in the literature, from personal experience, or from the experience of others.

• Non-directional hypothesis on the other hand does not

make a specific prediction about what direction the outcome of a study will take.

Types of Hypotheses

1. Working Hypothesis2. Scientific Hypothesis 3. Research Hypothesis4. Descriptive Hypothesis5. Explanatory Hypothesis

Working Hypothesis:

It is a preliminary assumption of the research worker about the research topic. When accurate information regarding the problem is not available we can develop some assumptions. These assumptions help us to design the final research hypothesis. For example, a researcher can state a working hypothesis as 'assuring educational school increases the living standard of a commodity'. After collecting some data on the sale of that particular commodity the researcher can develop his research hypothesis as 'assuring high rates of educational school increases the living standard of a commodity'.

Scientific Hypothesis:

It is the hypothesis based on empirical data.

Research Hypothesis

It is the statement developed by the researcher about some social fact.

The researcher wants to test whether the statement is true or false by collecting and analyzing relevant data. It forms the temporary assumptions of the research worker.

Descriptive Hypothesis

This is a hypothesis which describes the cause and effect relationship of a phenomenon.E.g.:- Group study helps to achieve high marks in examinations.

Explanatory (Causal) Hypothesis

It explains the happening of a phenomenon.

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