What research states that a relationship or difference exist between or among the variables of a study?

1. Research Methods
2. Hypotheses

What is a hypothesis?

By Saul McLeod, updated Dec 16, 2021

A hypothesis (plural hypotheses) is a precise, testable statement of what the researcher(s) predict will be the outcome of the study. It is stated at the start of the study.

This usually involves proposing a possible relationship between two variables: the independent variable (what the researcher changes) and the dependent variable (what the research measures).

In research, there is a convention that the hypothesis is written in two forms, the null hypothesis, and the alternative hypothesis (called the experimental hypothesis when the method of investigation is an experiment).

A fundamental requirement of a hypothesis is that is can be tested against reality, and can then be supported or rejected.

To test a hypothesis the researcher first assumes that there is no difference between populations from which they are taken. This is known as the null hypothesis. The research hypothesis is often called the alternative hypothesis.

Types of research hypotheses

Alternative Hypothesis

The alternative hypothesis states that there is a relationship between the two variables being studied (one variable has an effect on the other).

An experimental hypothesis predicts what change(s) will take place in the dependent variable when the independent variable is manipulated.

It states that the results are not due to chance and that they are significant in terms of supporting the theory being investigated.

Null Hypothesis

The null hypothesis states that there is no relationship between the two variables being studied (one variable does not affect the other). There will be no changes in the dependent variable due to the manipulation of the independent variable.

It states results are due to chance and are not significant in terms of supporting the idea being investigated.

Nondirectional Hypothesis

A non-directional (two-tailed) hypothesis predicts that the independent variable will have an effect on the dependent variable, but the direction of the effect is not specified. It just states that there will be a difference.

E.g., there will be a difference in how many numbers are correctly recalled by children and adults.

Directional Hypothesis

A directional (one-tailed) hypothesis predicts the nature of the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable. It predicts in which direction the change will take place. (i.e. greater, smaller, less, more)

E.g., adults will correctly recall more words than children.

Falsifiability

The Falsification Principle, proposed by Karl Popper, is a way of demarcating science from non-science. It suggests that for a theory to be considered scientific it must be able to be tested and conceivably proven false.

However many confirming instances there are for a theory, it only takes one counter observation to falsify it. For example, the hypothesis that "all swans are white," can be falsified by observing a black swan.

For Popper, science should attempt to disprove a theory, rather than attempt to continually support theoretical hypotheses.

Can a hypothesis be proven?

Upon analysis of the results, an alternative hypothesis can be rejected or supported, but it can never be proven to be correct.

We must avoid any reference to results proving a theory as this implies 100% certainty, and there is always a chance that evidence may exist which could refute a theory.

How to write a hypothesis

• 1. To write the alternative and null hypotheses for an investigation, you need to identify the key variables in the study.

  The independent variable is manipulated by the researcher and the dependent variable is the outcome which is measured.

• 2. Operationalized the variables being investigated.

  Operationalisation of a hypothesis refers to the process of making the variables physically measurable or testable, e.g. if you are about to study aggression you might count the number of punches given by participants

• 3. Decide on a direction for your prediction. If there is evidence in the literature to support a specific effect on the independent variable on the dependent variable, write a directional (one-tailed) hypothesis. If there are limited or ambiguous findings in the literature regarding the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable, write a non-directional (two-tailed) hypothesis.
• 4. Write your hypothesis. A good hypothesis is short (i.e. concise) and comprises clear and simple language.

What are examples of a hypothesis?

Let’s consider a hypothesis that many teachers might subscribe to: that students work better on Monday morning than they do on a Friday afternoon (IV=Day, DV=Standard of work).

Now, if we decide to study this by giving the same group of students a lesson on a Monday morning and on a Friday afternoon and then measuring their immediate recall on the material covered in each session we would end up with the following:

• The alternative hypothesis states that students will recall significantly more information on a Monday morning than on a Friday afternoon.
• The null hypothesis states that there will be no significant difference in the amount recalled on a Monday morning compared to a Friday afternoon. Any difference will be due to chance or confounding factors.

The null hypothesis is, therefore, the opposite of the alternative hypothesis in that it states that there will be no change in behavior.

At this point, you might be asking why we seem so interested in the null hypothesis. Surely the alternative (or experimental) hypothesis is more important?

Well, yes it is. However, we can never 100% prove the alternative hypothesis. What we do instead is see if we can disprove, or reject, the null hypothesis.

If we reject the null hypothesis, this doesn’t really mean that our alternative hypothesis is correct – but it does provide support for the alternative / experimental hypothesis.

How to reference this article:

McLeod, S. A. (2018, August 10). What is a hypothesis. Simply Psychology. www.simplypsychology.org/what-is-a-hypotheses.html

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