HO - 3 - Hypothesis

• Hypothesis


  A tentative answer to a question based on gathered background information, thus an educated guess
• Hypothesis


  A statement about the relationship between two or more variables that the researcher set out to prove or disprove in a research study
• Components of a hypothesis

  • Variables
  • Population
  • Relationship between the variables
• Characteristics of a hypothesis

  • Stated clearly using appropriate terminology
  • Testable
  • A statement of relationships between variables
  • Limited in scope or focused
• Types of hypothesis


  • Simple Hypothesis/"if and then" Hypothesis
  • Complex Hypothesis
  • Null and Alternative Hypothesis
• Simple Hypothesis


  Predicts the relationship between a single independent variable (IV) and a single dependent variable (DV)
• Simple Hypothesis


  • If exercise level is low, then weight retention would be high (because exercise help burn carbohydrates that turn to fats)
  • Lower level of exercise will be associated with weight retention (because exercise help burn carbohydrates that turn to fats)
  • If milk intake is high, then the bones will be stronger (because milk is rich in Calcium that makes up the bones)
  • High milk intake will make the bones grow stronger (because milk is rich Calcium that makes up the bones)
• Complex Hypothesis


  Predicts the relationship between two or more independent variable (IV) and two or more dependent variable (DV)
• Complex Hypothesis


  • Low risk pregnant women who value health highly, practices yoga, and believes that health promoting behaviors will result in positive outcome are more likely to attend pregnancy-related educational programs
  • Different water temperature such as cold, warm and tap will dissolve salt faster than sugar
  • Salt will dissolve faster than sugar in any given water temperature such as cold, warm and tap
• Null Hypothesis (Ho)


  Used when the researcher believes there is no relationship between two variables, contrary to the positive statement of a working hypothesis
• Null Hypothesis


  • There is no relationship between the growth rate of corn and the different brands of organic fertilizer
  • There is no significant difference in the growth rate of corn using different brands of organic fertilizer
• Alternative Hypothesis (Ha)


  Serves as 'another possibility' if the null hypothesis is rejected, can be stated as "not equal," "greater than," or "less than"
• A hypothesis is an educated guess about how things work
• Most hypotheses are written as "If [I do this], then [this] will happen"
• A good hypothesis is testable, meaning the independent and dependent variables can be measured
• Not every question can be answered by the scientific method, the hypothesis is the key