The document defines a research hypothesis as a tentative prediction about the relationship between two or more variables. A hypothesis provides objectivity, direction, and clear goals for a research study. It stimulates the researcher's thinking and determines the appropriate research design and data analysis techniques. Hypotheses can come from theoretical frameworks, previous research, experiences, or literature. They may be simple or complex, associative or causal, directional or non-directional. Well-formulated hypotheses are conceptual, testable, specific, and help draw conclusions from a research study.

1. RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

2. DEFINITION
• It is a tentative prediction or explanation of
the relationship between two or more
variables.

3. According to Polite and beck define hypothesis
as a statement of researcher’s expectations
about the relationship between variables under
investigation.

4.  Hypotheses enables the researcher to objectively
investigate new areas of discovery. Thus , it provides
a powerful tool for the advancement of knowledge.
 Hypotheses provides objectivity to the research
activity.
 It also provides directions to conduct research such
as defining the sources & relevance of data.
 Hypotheses provides clear & specific goals to the
researchers. These clear & specific goals provide the
investigator with a basis for selecting sample &
research procedures to meet these goals.

5.  Hypotheses provides link between theories &
actual practical research.
 It provides a bridge between theory & reality.
 A hypothesis suggests which type of research is
likely to be most appropriate.
 It stimulates the thinking process of researcher
as the researcher forms the hypothesis by
anticipating the outcome.

6.  It also determines the most appropriate
research designs & techniques of data
analysis.
 Hypotheses provides understanding to the
researchers about what expect from the
results of the research study.
 It serves as framework for drawing
conclusions of a research study.

7. SOURCES OF HYPOTHESIS
• Theoretical or conceptual framework
• Previous research findings
• Real life experiences
• Academic literature.

8. TYPES OF HYPOTHESIS
• SIMPLE AND COMPLEX HYPOTHESIS
• ASSOCIATIVE AND CASUAL HYPOTHESIS
• DIRECTIONAL AND NON DIRECTIONAL
HYPOTHESIS
• NULL (H0) AND RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS (H1)

9. CHARACTERISTICS
• Conceptual clarity
• Empirical referents
• Objectivity
• Specificity
• Relevant
• Testability
• consistency

10. • Simplicity
• Availability of technique
• Purposiveness
• Verifiability
• Profundity of effect
• Economical

11. FORMULATING HYPOTHESIS
• H should be written before the study
• H is derived from the problem statement,
variables, operational definition, relevant
theories.
• Null and alternatives hypothesis
• Declarative sentence
• One hypothesis contain only one prediction
• Number of H should be less than 6.

12. • Components of a hypothesis
- Variables
- Nature of relationship between the variables
- Subjects in population
- Level of significance for accepting or rejecting.