Online International Interdisciplinary Research Journal, {Bi-Monthly}, ISSN2249-9598, Volume-II, Issue-VI, Nov-Dec 2012
Significance of a Hypothesis in Research Methodology
Priyanka R. Mohod
The researcher is the Ph.D scholar working as a Lecturer, Post Graduate Teaching
Department of Law, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Maharashtra, India
Abstract
The research process begins and ends with the hypothesis. It is core to the entire
procedure and, therefore, is of the utmost importance. Hypothesis is nothing but the heat
of the research. Because without hypothesis research cannot be service properly. Hence,
hypothesis is very essential part of the research. Hypothesis is nothing but the good way
by which researcher finds his destination. A hypothesis can be formulated in several ways
yet it always performs the basic function of predicting the final outcome of the
investigation. The hypothesis usually occurs after inductive reasoning, in which the
researcher performs a series of observations in order to form a theory. No doubt,
sometime hypothesis may be a negative and some time it may be appositive. Means
hypothesis is merely a hunch of the mind it may be true or it may be false. A hypothesis
ensures the entire research process remains scientific and reliable. Though hypotheses are
essential during the research process, it can produce complications with regards to
probability, significance and errors. A hypothesis is an educational guess/predication
based on observations. Hence. On this account researcher is in present paper mainly high
kite the significance of the hypothesis and its importance in research methodology.
KEYWORDS: significance, hypothesis, research methodology.
1) Introduction:
"Science consists of both knowledge and the process by which this knowledge is
created, research. Although research succeeds by building and testing better theories, the
process involves constructs, concepts, and activities that are not themselves predictive.
Non-predictive constructs serve science as logical devices, memory aids, and
inspirational prods, incentives to thought, political opinions, personal ideals, half-formed
notions, odd beliefs, and unexpressed ideas. These elements are not 'bad' or unscientific.
They form a prescientific soup from which each scientist draws inspiration and from
which the disciplined human mind has constructed modern science."1
Hypothesis is a hunch the researcher or research team has. Basically a hypothesis
is nothing more or less than a hunch to solve your research problem. Researchers tend to
prefer a hypothesis that turns out correct, partly because of the human preference for
winning instead of losing, but also partly because of the philosophy behind the scientific
method. Researchers tend to stick to previous results that have not been falsified. It is
however of much greater importance to ensure that hypothesis is manageable and being
able to be tested by any kind of study. A good hypothesis adds to existing theory by
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proposing rules, laws, and processes and allows predictions to new situations. A good
hypothesis by adding predictions on the how or why. So use sentences that include
variations. If one cannot assess the predictions by observation or by experience, the
hypothesis classes as not yet useful, and must wait for others who might come afterward
to make possible the needed observations. For example, a new technology or theory
might make the necessary experiments feasible.2
Objectives: researcher has framed following objectives-
1. To define meaning and importance of hypothesis.
2. To explain the significance of hypothesis in research methodology.
3. To discuss the characteristics of good hypothesis
4. To highlight the sources of hypothesis.
Research Methodology: researcher had adopted doctrinal method and collected second
hand data from various books and journals.
2) Meaning and Importance of Hypothesis:
“Hypo” means less than or under, and “thesis” means idea or general opinion to be
defended by a person and thus hypothesis means an idea form beforehand which has less
value than the generally formed view. If we have to proceed towards some destination for
which we don’t know the way, we try to form an idea about the direction to proceed and
by trial and error, we reach that goal. The primary idea is called a hypothesis.3
a) Definition and Nature of Hypothesis:
According to George A. Lundburg, “A hypothesis is tentative generalization, the
validity of which remains to be tested. In this most elementary stage the hypothesis may
be any hunch, guess, imaginative idea, which becomes the basis for action and
investigation” A hypothesis is a conjectural statement of the relation between two or
more variables. It is a tentative answer to the research question or an educated guess of
the research outcome. Hypothesis is always in a declarative sentence form and they relate
either generally or specifically from variable to variable. The testable proposition is
called Hypothesis. It is a proposition, condition or principle which assured perhaps,
without a belief in order to draw out its logical consequences. By this method, we can test
its agreement with facts which are known and may be determined.
i) A proposition stating in a testable form the relationship between two or more variables,
ii)A conjectural statement of the relationship between two or more variables.4
On this account one can say that, hypothesis is a tentative statement which
expresses the nature of relationship between two or more variables usually in the forms of
cause-effect relationship. Hypothesis constitutes part of the researcher‘s attempt at
explaining casual relationships. It is thus an indispensable tool of the research process
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which enables one to restrict and streamline one‘s search for the ultimate solution to the
research problem under investigation.
b) Characteristics of Good Hypothesis
Specific ― the hypothesis should not be too vague or general.
Conceptually clear: The hypothesis should be properly expressed.
It leads to discovery of additions to knowledge by helping to confirm or
disconfirm particular theories or propositions.
Related to be available technique: The hypothesis should be capable of being
verified.
It must be simple and capable to empirical test.
It provides the framework for drawing the conclusion of a research endeavor. In
fact, conclusions are direct response to the hypothesis formulated for the study as
confirmed or discontinued by data analysis.
c) Criteria And Sources For Good Hypothesis Statement
There are some criteria for good hypothesis statement.
They must be formed as ― relationship and stated in such manner that their
implications and relationship to the problem can be shown logically.
They should be stated as simply as possible both in terms of theoretical
complexities and implication and in terms of number of variable.
They must be capable of verification or rejection within the limits of the research
resources.
They must be stated in a manner which provides direction for the research. 5
It may be outcome from a body of theory that by process of logical deduction and it leads
to the prediction that if certain conditions are present, certain results will follow.
However, the basis for correct formulation of hypothesis is the knowledge of the
researcher, the knowledge being funded primarily in theory. The broader the experience
of the researcher in relating theory to applied problem, the more efficient he will be in
formulating appropriate hypothesis
d) Types of Hypothesis
Hypotheses are mostly commonly classified according to the way they are stated in
the research process. Based on this method of classification, there are two types of
hypothesis:
• Null hypothesis: The null hypothesis may be crude or refined. When a null
hypothesis is stated negatively, it is called a null hypothesis. A crude null hypothesis
which is at the low level of abstraction and it does not lead to higher theoretical
research. The null hypothesis is a proposition that stipulates that there would be no
relationship or difference between the variables being studied and that any such
relationship or difference if found to exist does so accidentally or as a result of
chance it is more or less the negation of the directional or alternative hypothesis. A/c
to Young, three broad categories is there,
• Uniform: Uniform Hypothesis relate to the existence of empirical uniformities.
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• Complex: The complex types are concerned with complex idea type. They existence
of logically desired relationship between empirical uniformities.
• Analytic: They are aimed at finding out the relationship between changes in one
property leading to change in another.
And so many types are there which are relating to hypothesis i.e. Uni-variablbe
and multi-variable, universal and statistical, temporal and cross sectional, descriptive,
relational, explanatory etc. The problem and hypothesis direct investigation helps to
deduce specific empirical manifestation implied by them. It advances scientific
knowledge by helping the investigator to confirm or reject theory and hypothesis
incorporates the theory or part of it, in testable or near testable form.
e) Hypothesis Testing and Levels of Significance
In qualitative studies, the main purpose of the analysis is to test hypothesis, which
form the basis of the study and to discuss these in relation to theories in the field.
Hypothesis testing is often referred to as significance testing. A test of significance is
conducted by comparing the values of a statistics computed from a sample with values
predicted by the sampling distribution under the assumption that the null hypothesis is
true.
f) Types of Errors
There are few errors in the nature of problems and hypothesis
• Scientific problem is not moral and ethical questions.
• Value statements that indicate cultural or personal judgments or preferences
should be avoided.
• Another common defect of problem statements often occurs in doctoral thesis:
listing the methodological points or problems as sub problems.6
3) Hypotheses, Concepts and Measurement:
Concepts, as abstract units of meaning, play a key role in the development and
testing of hypotheses. Concepts are the basic components of hypotheses. Most formal
hypotheses connect concepts by specifying the expected relationships between concepts.
The concepts should be measured. Education could be measured by "years of school
completed" or "highest degree completed" etc. Income could be measured by "hourly rate
of pay" or "yearly salary" etc.
When a set of hypotheses are grouped together they become a type of conceptual
framework. When a conceptual framework is complex and incorporates causality or
explanation it is generally referred to as a theory. According to noted philosopher of
science Carl Gustav Hempel "An adequate empirical interpretation turns a theoretical
system into a testable theory: The hypotheses whose constituent terms have been
interpreted become capable of test by reference to observable phenomena. Frequently the
interpreted hypothesis will be derivative hypotheses of the theory; but their confirmation
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or disconfirmation by empirical data will then immediately strengthen or weaken also the
primitive hypotheses from which they were derived."7
4) Hypothesis and Variables:
A variable is something that changes. It changes according to different factors.
Some variables change easily, like the stock-exchange value, while other variables are
almost constant, like the name of someone. Researchers are often seeking to measure
variables. The variable can be a number, a name, or anything where the value can change.
An example of a variable is temperature. The temperature varies according to other
variable and factors. You can measure different temperature inside and outside. If it is a
sunny day, chances are that the temperature will be higher than if it's cloudy. Another
thing that can make the temperature change is whether something has been done to
manipulate the temperature, like lighting a fire in the chimney.
In research, you typically define variables according to what you're measuring.
The independent variable is the variable which the researcher would like to measure (the
cause), while the dependent variable is the effect (or assumed effect), dependent on the
independent variable. These variables are often stated in experimental research, in a
hypothesis, e.g. "what is the effect of personality on helping behavior?"8
5) Conclusion:
On this account researcher conclude that, hypothesis is very important in research
work. It is key to help to the researcher to open his innovative idea. In framing a
hypothesis, the investigator must not currently know the outcome of a test or that it
remains reasonably under continuing investigation. Only in such cases does the
experiment, test or study potentially increase the probability of showing the truth of a
hypothesis. If the researcher already knows the outcome, it counts as a "consequence”
and the researcher should have already considered this while formulating the hypothesis.
In 21st century it is very essential that, a hypothesis should be an evolutionary one and
there is some specific outcome. For proper evaluation, the framer of a hypothesis needs to
define specifics in operational terms. A hypothesis requires more work by the researcher
in order to either confirm or disprove it. In due course, a confirmed hypothesis may
become part of a theory or occasionally may grow to become a theory itself.
References:
1. The researcher is the Ph.D. scholar working as a Lecturer, Post Graduate Teaching
Department of Law, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University Amravati.
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2. Henry Peters Robert (1991) A critique for ecology. Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge, UK. 366 pp. ISBN 0 521 39588 7 - p. 21
3. Myneni S.R. (Dr.) “Legal Research and Methodology” Allahabad Law agencey.p.
80.
4. With regards to definition, Onyeogi (2000) defined hypothesis
5. Retsky M, Demicheli R, Hrushesky W: Premenopausal status accelerates relapse in
node positive breast cancer: hypothesis links angiogenesis, screening controversy.
6. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2001, 65:217-224.
7. Crease Robert P. (2008) The Great Equations ISBN 978-0-393-06204-5, p.112 lists
the conservation of energy as an example of accounting a constant of motion.
Hypothesized by Sadi Carnot, truth demonstrated by James Prescott Joule, proven by
Emmy Noether
8. Hempel, C. G. (1952). Fundamentals of concept formation in empirical science.
Chicago, Illinois: The University of Chicago Press, p. 36
9. http://explorable.com/research-methodology.html#axzz2BqfFatWv visited on
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