This document defines hypothesis and discusses its functions and characteristics. It begins by defining a hypothesis as an intelligent guess or prediction that gives direction to a researcher to answer a research question. It then explains that a hypothesis formally states the expected relationship between two or more variables. The document outlines several key contributions and functions of hypotheses, including providing clarity to research problems and objectives, directing the research study process, and facilitating data collection and analysis. It describes different types of hypotheses, such as null/alternative hypotheses, directional/non-directional, simple/complex, and causal/associative hypotheses. Finally, it discusses advantages and disadvantages of stating hypotheses and emphasizes the importance of hypotheses in providing relationships between variables and objectivity to research.

1. UNIT-3 (c):
HYPOTHESIS
Ms. Chanda Jabeen
Lecturer
RN, RM, BSN
M.Phil. Epidemiology & Public Health
PhD (Scholar) Epidemiology & Public Health
1

2. Objectives
At the end of this presentation students will be
able to
 Define Hypothesis
 Explain functions of hypothesis
 Discuss various types of hypothesis
 Describe characteristics of hypothesis
2

3. DEFNITIONS
• Hypothesis is considered as an intelligent
guess or prediction, that gives directional to
the researcher to answer the research
question.
• Hypothesis or Hypotheses are defined as the
formal statement of the tentative or expected
prediction or explanation of the relationship
between two or more variables in a specified
population
3

4. • Ahypothesis is aformal tentative statement of the
expectedrelationship between two or more
variables understudy.
• Ahypothesis helps to translate the research
problem and objective into aclearexplanation or
prediction of the expectedresults or outcomes of
thestudy.
4

5. CONTRIBUTIONS OF HYPOTHESIS
• Itprovides clarity to the research problem and
research objectives.
• It describes, explains or predicts the expected
results oroutcome of the research.
• It indicates the type ofresearch design.
• It directs the research studyprocess.
• It identifies the population of the research
study that is to be investigated or examined.
• It facilitates data collection, data analysis and
datainterpretation.
5

6. FUNCTIONS
• It enables an investigator to start his research
work.
• It may lead to formulations of another
hypothesis.
• It leads to interpret results drawing
conclusions related to original purpose.
6

7. • Hypothesis can explain all the facts connected with it.
• Hypothesis helps us to provide direction to the research. A
researcher can decide what data are to be collected for the
study on the basis of the hypothesis.
• Hypothesis helps us to provide directions to the research. A
researcher can decide what data are to be collected for the
study on the basis of the hypothesis.
• Hypothesis prevents us from blind search. Hypothesis helps
us to search only for relevant facts. So it is helping us to save
money and time.
• Hypothesis can place clear and specific goals before the
researcher.
• Hypothesis acts as a guide to collect the relevant data
related to the problem.
7

8. CHARACTERISTICS
A Hypothesis must be Capable of
Verification.
A Hypothesis must be Related to the
Existing Body of Knowledge.
A Hypothesis Needs to be Precise,
Simple and Specific
8

9.  Ahypothesismust beconceptuallyclear.Alltheconceptsusedin
 a hypothesis must be clearlydefined.
 A hypothesis must beempiricallytestable. Concepts which donot
haveempiricalbasismust notbeincludedinahypothesis.
 A hypothesis must be specificand precise.Thepossible
relationshipsamongthevariablesmust bepreciselystatedina
hypothesis.
 Ahypothesisshouldbeconsistentwithknown facts.
 A hypothesis must have a theoreticalorientation.A good
hypothesismust beabletosupport or refute(deny)anexisting
theory of socialrelations.
 Ahypothesismust beclear,definiteandstatedinasimple
manner.
 Ahypothesismust havereasonableexplanationtoanyproblemin
the present stateofknowledge.
9

10. ADVANTAGES
1. Ahypothesisforcesus to thinkmoredeeplyand specifically
about thepossibleoutcomesof astudy. It enablesus to
understandwhatthequestion impliesand exactlywhat
variablesareinvolved.
2. ifoneisattemptingtobuildabodyofknowledgein addition
to answering a specificquestion,then statinghypothesisis a
good strategybecauseit enablesoneto makespecific
predictionsbasedon priorevidenceortheoreticalargument.
3. Hypothesisstatinghelpsustoseeifweareorare not
investigatingarelationship.
10

11. DISADVANTAGES
1. Stating a hypothesis may lead to a bias, either
consciously or unconsciously, on the part of the
researcher. This is because the researcher may be
tempted to arrange the procedures or manipulate
the data in such a way as to bring about a desired
outcome. This depends on the honesty of the
researchers.
2. Stating hypothesis may sometimes be
unnecessary, or even inappropriate, in certain
research projects of certain types i.e., descriptive
or ethnographic studies.
3. Stating hypothesis may prevent researchers from
noticing other phenomena that might be
important to study.
11

12. TYPES OF HYPOTHESIS
1. Based on statistical hypothesis
2. Based on direction
3. Based on the number of variables
4. Based on relationship
12

13. Based on Statistical
Hypothesis
13

14. NULL HYPOTHESIS
• Null the hypothesis that there is no significant
difference between specified populations, any
observed difference being due to sampling or
experimental error.
• It is denoted by H0
14

15. ALTERNATE HYPOTHESIS
• The alternative hypothesis, denoted by H1 or
Ha.
• Is the hypothesis that sample observations
are influenced by some non-random cause.
15

16. 2. Based on Direction
16

17. DIRECTIONAL
HYPOTHESIS
• Directional Hypothesis predicts the direction
of the relationship between the independent
and dependent variable.
• Example- High quality of nursing
education will lead to high quality of
nursing practice skills.
• Girls ability of learning moral science is
better than boys.
17

18. NON DIRECTIONAL
HYPOTHESIS
• Non -directional Hypothesis predicts the
relationship between the independent variable
and the dependent variable but does not specific
the directional of the relationship.
• Example-teacher studentrelationship
influence student’slearning.
• There is no significant difference between 9th
class boys and girls abilities of learning moral
values.
18

19. 3. Based on the Number
of Variables
19

20. SIMPLE HYPOTHESIS
• Simple hypothesis is that one in which
there exits relationship between two
variables one is called independent
variable or cause and the other is
dependent variable or effect.
• Ex. Smoking leads to cancer
• The higher ratio of unemployment
leads to crimes.
20

21. COMPLEX HYPOTHESIS
• Complex hypothesis is that one in which as
relationship among variables exists.
• In this type dependent and independent
variables are more than two
• Ex. Smoking and other drugs leads to cancer,
tension, chest infections etc.
• The higher ration of unemployment poverty
illiteracy leads to crimes like dacoit etc.
21

22. 4. Based On Relationship
22

23. CASUAL HYPOTHESIS
• Causal Hypothesis predicts a cause and
effects relationship or interaction between
the independent variable and dependent
variable.
• This hypothesis predicts the effect of
the independent variable on the
dependent variable
23

24. ASSOCIATIVE
HYPOTHESIS
• Associative Hypothesis predicts an
associative relationship between the
independent variable and the dependent
variable.
• When there is a change in any one of
the variables, changes also occurs in
the other variable
24

25. EMPIRICAL HYPOTHESIS
• Empirical which means it is
based on evidence.
• In scientific method the word
"empirical" refers to the use of working
hypothesis that can be tested using
observation and experiment.
• Empirical data is produced by experiment
and observation.
25

26. QUESTION FORM OF
HYPOTHESIS
• It Is the simplest form of empirical
hypothesis.
• In simple case of investigation and
research are adequately implemented
by resuming a question.
• Ex. how is the ability of 9th class
students in learning moral values?
26

27. STATISTICAL
HYPOTHESIS
• A hypothesis which can be verified
statistically called statistical hypothesis.
• The statement would be logical or illogical
but if statistic verifies it, it will be
statistical hypothesis.
27

28. IMPORTANCE OF
HYPOTHESIS
• It provides relationship between the variables.
• It provides a bridge between theory and reality.
• It provides objectivity to the research activity.
• It provides clear and specific goals to research.
• It serve as a frame work for the research study.
• Without hypothesis, research is aimless.
28