SearchNetworking Show
SearchSecurity
SearchCIO
SearchHRSoftware
SearchCustomerExperience How to Write a Strong Hypothesis | Steps & ExamplesA hypothesis is a statement that can be tested by scientific research. If you want to test a relationship between two or more variables, you need to write hypotheses before you start your experiment or data collection.
Example: HypothesisDaily apple consumption leads to fewer doctor’s visits. Table of contents
What is a hypothesis?A hypothesis states your predictions about what your research will find. It is a tentative answer to your research question that has not yet been tested. For some research projects, you might have to write several hypotheses that address different aspects of your research question. A hypothesis is not just a guess – it should be based on existing theories and knowledge. It also has to be testable, which means you can support or refute it through scientific research methods (such as experiments, observations and statistical analysis of data). Variables in hypothesesHypotheses propose a relationship between two or more variables. An independent variable is something the researcher changes or controls. A dependent variable is something the researcher observes and measures. Example: Hypothesis In this example, the independent variable is exposure to the sun– the assumed cause. The dependent variable is the level of happiness– the assumed effect. Developing a hypothesis (with example)Step 1. Ask a questionWriting a hypothesis begins with a research question that you want to answer. The question should be focused, specific, and researchable within the constraints of your project. Example: Research question Step 2. Do some preliminary researchYour initial answer to the question should be based on what is already known about the topic. Look for theories and previous studies to help you form educated assumptions about what your research will find. At this stage, you might construct a conceptual framework to identify which variables you will study and what you think the relationships are between them. Sometimes, you’ll have to operationalise more complex constructs. Step 3. Formulate your hypothesisNow you should have some idea of what you expect to find. Write your initial answer to the question in a clear, concise sentence. Attending more lectures leads to better exam results. 4. Refine your hypothesisYou need to make sure your hypothesis is specific and testable. There are various ways of phrasing a hypothesis, but all the terms you use should have clear definitions, and the hypothesis should contain:
5. Phrase your hypothesis in three waysTo identify the variables, you can write a simple prediction inif…then form. The first part of the sentence states the independent variable and the second part states the dependent variable. If a first-year student starts attending more lectures, then their exam scores will improve. In academic research, hypotheses are more commonly phrased in terms of correlations or effects, where you directly state the predicted relationship between variables. The number of lectures attended by first-year students has a positive effect on their exam scores. If you are comparing two groups, the hypothesis can state what difference you expect to find between them. First-year students who attended most lectures will have better exam scores than those who attended few lectures. 6. Write a null hypothesisIf your research involves statistical hypothesis testing, you will also have to write a null hypothesis. The null hypothesis is the default position that there is no association between the variables. The null hypothesis is written as H0, while the alternative hypothesis is H1 or Ha. H0: The number of lectures attended by first-year students has no effect on their final exam scores.
Receive feedback on language, structure and formattingProfessional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:
See an example
Hypothesis examples
Frequently asked questions about writing hypothesesWhat is a hypothesis?
A hypothesis states your predictions about what your research will find. It is a tentative answer to your research question that has not yet been tested. For some research projects, you might have to write several hypotheses that address different aspects of your research question. A hypothesis is not just a guess — it should be based on existing theories and knowledge. It also has to be testable, which means you can support or refute it through scientific research methods (such as experiments, observations and statistical analysis of data). What are null and alternative hypotheses?
Null and alternative hypotheses are used in statistical hypothesis testing. The null hypothesis of a test always predicts no effect or no relationship between variables, while the alternative hypothesis states your research prediction of an effect or relationship. What is hypothesis testing?
Hypothesis testing is a formal procedure for investigating our ideas about the world using statistics. It is used by scientists to test specific predictions, called hypotheses, by calculating how likely it is that a pattern or relationship between variables could have arisen by chance.
Cite this Scribbr articleIf you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.
Cite this article
Is this article helpful?331 48 You have already voted. Thanks :-) Your vote is saved :-) Processing your vote...Shona McCombesShona has a bachelor's and two master's degrees, so she's an expert at writing a great thesis. She has also worked as an editor and teacher, working with students at all different levels to improve their academic writing. |