A research hypothesis is a specific, testable prediction that provides an answer to the research question, based on existing theoretical knowledge or experimental data.
A research hypothesis must be based on formulas, facts, and theories. It should be testable by data analysis, observations, experiments, or other scientific methodologies that can refute or support the statement.
What are variables in a hypothesis?
In a hypothesis, variables are the characteristics or facts that can change or vary and are proposed to have a relationship with each other.
Most research studies involve two or more variables in the hypothesis, particularly those employing correlational and experimental research designs. The researcher can control or change the independent variable while measuring and observing the dependent variable.
EXAMPLE
“How long a student sleeps affects test scores.”
In the above statement, the dependent variable is the test score, while the independent variable is the length of time spent sleeping. Developing a hypothesis will be easy if you know your research’s dependent and independent variables.
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Hypothesis Examples
Here are some examples of hypotheses that can help you write them efficiently:
Example 1
Research Question: Does the amount of sunlight a plant receives affect its growth?
Hypothesis: Plants that receive more sunlight will grow taller than plants that receive less sunlight.
Example 2
Research Question: Do students who eat breakfast perform better in school exams than those who don’t?
Hypothesis: Students who eat a morning breakfast will score higher on school exams compared to students who skip breakfast.
Example 3
Research Question: Does listening to music while studying impact a student’s ability to retain information?
Hypothesis 1 (Directional): Students who listen to music while studying will retain less information than those who study in silence.
Hypothesis 2 (Non-directional): There will be a difference in information retention between students who listen to music while studying and those who study in silence.
A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Write a Hypothesis
Here are the steps involved in writing a hypothesis for a dissertation:
Step 1: Start with a research question
Begin by asking a specific question about a topic of interest. This question should be clear, concise, and researchable.
For example, does exposure to sunlight affect plant growth?
Step 2: Do preliminary research
Before formulating a hypothesis, conduct background research to understand existing knowledge on the topic. Familiarise yourself with prior studies, theories, or observations related to the research question.
Step 3: Define variables
Independent Variable (IV): The factor that you change or manipulate in an experiment.
Dependent Variable (DV): The factor that you measure.
For example,
IV: Amount of sunlight exposure (e.g., 2 hours/day, 4 hours/day, 8 hours/day)
DV: Plant growth (e.g., height in centimetres)
Step 4: Formulate the hypothesis
A hypothesis is a statement that predicts the relationship between two or more variables. It is often written as an “if-then” statement.
For example, if plants receive more sunlight, then they will grow taller.
Step 5: Ensure it is testable
A good hypothesis is empirically testable. This means you should be able to design an experiment or observation to test its validity.
For example, you can set up an experiment where plants are exposed to varying amounts of sunlight and then measure their growth over a specified period.
Step 6: Consider potential confounding variables
Confounding variables are factors other than the independent variable that might affect the outcome. It is important to identify these to ensure that they do not skew your results.
For example, soil quality, water frequency, or the type of plant can all affect growth. Consider keeping these constants in your experiment.
Step 7: Write the null hypothesis
The null hypothesis is a statement that there is no effect or no relationship between the variables. It is what you aim to disprove or reject through your research. Here is how you can write the null hypothesis:
There is no difference in plant growth regardless of the amount of sunlight exposure.
Step 8: Test your hypothesis
Design an experiment or conduct observations to test your hypothesis. Here is an example:
Grow three sets of plants: one set exposed to 2 hours of sunlight daily, another exposed to 4 hours, and a third exposed to 8 hours. Measure and compare their growth after a set period.
Step 9: Analyse the results
After testing, review your data to determine if it supports your hypothesis.
Step 10: Draw conclusions
Based on your findings, determine whether you can accept or reject the hypothesis. Remember, even if you reject your hypothesis, it’s a valuable result. It can guide future research and refine questions.
What are the steps to write a hypothesis?
- Start with a research question
- Do preliminary research
- Define variables
- Formulate the hypothesis
- Ensure it is testable
- Consider potential confounding variables
- Write the null hypothesis
- Test your hypothesis
- Analyse the results
- Draw conclusions
Three Ways to Phrase a Hypothesis
Try to use “if”… and “then”… to identify the variables. The independent variable should be present in the first part of the hypothesis, while the dependent variable will form the second part of the statement.
Understand the following research hypothesis example to create a specific, clear, and concise research hypothesis:
If an obese lady starts attending Zomba fitness classes, her health will improve.
In academic research, you can write the predicted variable relationship directly because most research studies correlate terms.
The number of Zomba fitness classes attended by the obese lady has a positive effect on her health.
If your research compares two groups, then you can develop a hypothesis statement on their differences.
An obese lady who attended most Zumba fitness classes will have better health than those who attended a few.
How to Write a Null Hypothesis?
If statistical analysis is involved in your research, then you must create a null hypothesis. If you find any relationship between the variables, then the null hypothesis will be the default position that there is no relationship between them.
H0 is the symbol for the null hypothesis, while the hypothesis is represented as H1. The null hypothesis will also answer your question, “How to test the research hypothesis in the dissertation”.
- H0: The number of Zumba fitness classes attended by the obese lady does not affect her health.
- H1: The number of Zumba fitness classes attended by obese ladies positively affects health.
Struggling to Write a Hypothesis?
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Clear Statement: State a clear relationship between variables.
- Testable: Ensure it can be investigated and measured.
- Specific: Avoid vague terms, be precise in predictions.
- Falsifiable: Design to allow potential disproof.
- Relevant: Address research question and align with existing knowledge.
A hypothesis is an educated guess or prediction about something that can be tested. It is a statement that suggests a possible explanation for an event or phenomenon based on prior knowledge or observation. Scientists use hypotheses as a starting point for experiments to discover if they are true or false.
A hypothesis is a testable prediction or explanation for an observation or phenomenon. For example, if plants are given sunlight, then they will grow. In this case, the hypothesis suggests that sunlight has a positive effect on plant growth. It can be tested by experimenting with plants in varying light conditions.
A hypothesis in research is a clear, testable statement predicting the possible outcome of a study based on prior knowledge and observation. It serves as the foundation for conducting experiments or investigations. Researchers test the validity of the hypothesis to draw conclusions and advance knowledge in a particular field.
The term “hypothesis” originates from the Greek word “hypothesis,” which means “base” or “foundation.” It’s used to describe a foundational statement or proposition that can be tested. In scientific contexts, it denotes a tentative explanation for a phenomenon, serving as a starting point for investigation or experimentation.
