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Hypothesis is a predictive statement which is unproven or a presumption to be proved or disproved about any factor. This statement can be tested and verified by scientific methods and is related to the independent factor of a dependent factor. Example of simple hypothesis- Consumption of fast food everyday leads to obesity.
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Key Terms: Hypothesis Meaning, Null Hypothesis, Alternative Hypothesis, Simple Hypothesis, Complex Hypothesis
What is Hypothesis?
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A hypothesis statement is an assumption that is made based on some evidence. Hypothesis is the starting point of investigation which translates the research questions into assuming predictions. Components of hypotheses are variables, variable relations, population. A research hypothesis is used to test the relationship between two or more variables.
Examples of Hypothesis based on their types-
- Simple hypothesis- Consumption of coke every day leads to obesity.
- Null hypothesis- All flower lilies have the same number of petals.
- Directional hypothesis- A person gets 7 hours of sleep, will make him feel less fatigue than if he sleeps less.
Characteristics of Hypothesis
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- Relational hypothesis states the relationship between two variables.
- Hypothesis is specific and limited to the scope for researchers to research easily and it should also be understood that the simplicity of the hypothesis is not related to its significance.
- Hypothesis statements should be consistent and obtained from most known facts. Which means it should be a type of statement which is most likely to occur.
- The hypothesis should be mentioned in clear and precise statements which should have scoper for conducting more tests.
- Relational hypothesis states the relationship between variables.
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| Michaelis menten kinetics | Chemiosmotic Hypothesis | De broglie Relations |
| Mass flow hypothesis | Photosynthesis and chemiosmotic hypothesis | Planck’s Quantum Theory |
Types of Hypothesis
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The various types of Hypothesis are-
1. Simple Hypothesis
Simple Hypothesis defines the relation between the two variables such as independent and dependent variables. For example – If you exercise, you will lose weight faster. Here, exercising is an independent variable, while losing weight is the dependent variable.
2. Complex Hypothesis
Complex Hypothesis contains more than one variable, which makes the hypothesis more complex and harder to understand. It shows the relationship between two or more dependent variables and two or more independent variables. Eating healthy food and exercising leads to weight loss, glowing skin, and reduces the risk of heart disease.
3. Null Hypothesis
Null hypothesis is a type of hypothesis which predicts that there is no relationship between the two variables at test. It provides a statement which is always contrary to the hypothesis. It’s a negative statement, and there is no relationship between independent and dependent variables. The symbol is denoted by “HO”.
4. Directional Hypothesis
Directional hypothesis predicts the positivity or negativity of an effect prior to the test being conducted.
5. Non-Directional Hypothesis
Non- Directional hypothesis doesn’t predict the positivity or negativity of the effect of an independent variable on the dependent variable.
6. Logical Hypothesis
Logical Hypothesis cannot be tested but it has some logical basis in support of our assumptions.
7. Statistical Hypothesis
Statistical hypothesis makes use of representative statistical models to come to a conclusion about broader populations.
Sources of Hypothesis
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The sources of hypothesis are-
- Resemblance between the phenomenon of hypothesis.
- Observations from past studies, competitors and present-day experiences.
- Scientific theories by researchers.
- The thinking process of people is another source of hypothesis.
Functions of Hypothesis
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Following are the functions performed by the hypothesis statement-
- Hypothesis helps in making an observation made by the researcher.
- Hypothesis becomes the initial point of an investigation.
- Hypothesis helps in verifying the observations made.
- Hypothesis helps in directing the inquiries in the right direction.
Things To Remember
- Hypothesis can be testable and falsifiable.
- When a hypothesis is proved to be true by all experiments, tests and critical analysis, it becomes a theory.
- Hypothesis is specific and limited to the scope for researchers to research easily and it should also be understood that the simplicity of the hypothesis is not related to its significance.
- The types of hypotheses are- Simple, complex, null, directional,logical wtc.
- Hypothesis helps in making an observation made by the researcher and becomes the initial point of an investigation. It helps in verifying the observations made.
Sample Questions
Ques. What is the Difference Between Hypothesis and Theory? (5 marks)
Ans. The key difference between Hypothesis and theory is-
| Hypothesis | Theory |
|---|---|
| Hypothesis is considered as an unproven statement which is still being tested or an assumption. | Theories are scientifically tested and proved. |
| Hypothesis depends upon suggestions, predictions or possibilities. | Theories have evidence hence, it is verified. |
| Hypothesis can or cannot be proved true, so the result is not verified. | Theories can be assumed to be true, so its result is always verified. |
| Hypotheses are based on a limited amount of data. | It is based on a very wide set of data and research. |
| Hypothesis is the verification of common principles through experiments and multiple tests, and this type of system may be applied to different types of situations. | Theories are based on accurate research and are limited to that time only. |
Ques. What is Simple Hypothesis? (3 marks)
Ans. A simple hypothesis predicts a relationship between two variables, which means that one variable has an effect on the other variable.
Example: The more hours spent studying for an exam results in higher grades.
Here, the hours spent studying is the independent variable and grades is the dependent variable. The independent variable is manipulated and the dependent variable is measured to see how it affects the independent variable change.
Ques. What is Complex Hypothesis? (3 marks)
Ans. A complex hypothesis includes two or more independent variables or two or more dependent variables. In the first case of two or more variables.
For example, the hypothesis might be that more hours studying and more classes attended lead to higher grades; in the second case of dependent variable being more, then the hypothesis might be that more hours studying lead to higher grades and a shorter amount of time required to write the exam.
Ques. What is the hypothesis and how is it tested? (4 marks)
Ans. A hypothesis is a prediction of what you expect the dependent variable to be. In good science, the hypothesis is advanced before the data are gathered (or at least before they are examined).
A hypothesis does not attempt to explain data, that is the role of theory.
Hypotheses are tested by surveys & experiments which is quantitative research. The way this is done is by comparing the hypothesis with a null (no difference). Inferential statistics are used to decide whether or not to reject the null. Inferential statistics include
- Fisher-Neyman null hypothesis significance testing (p < .05)
- confidence intervals (e.g., G. Cumming)
- Bayes Factors (e.g., Wagenmakers and the JASP team)
Ques. What is the role of hypothesis in science? (3 marks)
Ans. The scientific method starts by proposing a hypothesis, which is an assertion on how something works.
- A hypothesis cannot really be proven by researchers, only dis-proven using experimentation. When the result of an experiment does not prove the hypothesis to be wrong, it is said that the experiment corroborates the hypothesis.
- A hypothesis becomes a theory when a large number of different kinds of experiments, researches have been executed by a large number of scientists around the world and they have all corroborated the hypothesis.
Ques. Give an example of a simple hypothesis? (1 mark)
Ans. Consumption of sugary processed drinks daily results in obesity. This is an example of a simple hypothesis.
Ques. What are the Characteristics of Hypothesis? (3 marks)
Ans. In relational hypothesis, it states the relationship between two variables.
- Hypothesis statements are easy to understand and the simplicity of hypothesis should not relate to its significance.
- Hypothesis can be specific and limited to the scope so that it will be easier to test for the researcher.
- Hypothesis should be obtained from most known facts. That is, it should be in a form of statement which is most likely to occur.
Ques. What are Independent and dependent variables? (3 marks)
Ans. An independent variable stands on its own and is not changed by any other variables. Whereas, The dependent variable depends on other factors
The independent variable always causes a change in the dependent variable, Whereas, the dependent variable cannot cause a change on the independent variable.
For Example- If you exercise daily, you will lose weight and skin will glow. Here, exercising is the independent variable and loosing weight dependent variable.
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