1. A hypothesis is a tentative assumption made to explain a phenomenon or guide an investigation. It can be a conjectural statement about the relationship between two or more variables that can be tested. 2. The main functions of a hypothesis are to provide focus for a study by specifying what aspects to investigate and what data to collect. Developing a hypothesis enhances objectivity. 3. For a hypothesis to be testable and useful for a study, it should be simple, specific, conceptually clear, capable of being verified, and related to existing knowledge. The outcome of testing a hypothesis may prove it right, partially right, or wrong.

1. CONSTRUCTING HYPOTHESIS

2. SCOPE & DEFINITIONS OF HYPOTHESIS
* “Hypotheses are single tentative guesses, good
hunches –assumed for use in devising theory or
planning experiments intended to be given a
direct experimental test when possible”. (Eric
Rogers, 1966)
* “A hypothesis is a conjectural statement of the
relation between two or more variables”.
(Kerlinger, 1956)
* “Hypothesis is a formal statement that presents
the expected relationship between an
independent and dependent variable.”(Creswell,
1994)
* “A research question is essentially a hypothesis

3. Hypotheis is a “hunch”, assumptions
, suspicion, assertion, or an idea
about a phenomenon relationship
or situation, the reality or truth of
which you do not know.
-becomes the basis of inquiry
- May be based on previous
studies,own or some else’s
observation

4. The outcome of testing your
hunch may prove to be: right,
partially right or wrong
* Without the process of
verification, you cannot
conclude the validity of your
assumption.

5. FUNCTIONS OF HYPOTHESIS
• Provides a study with a focus
• Tells what specific aspect of a research
problem to investigate.
• Tells what data to collect and what not
to collect thereby providing focus to the
study
• As it provides focus, its construction
enhances the objectivity in the study.
• It may enable to add to the formulation
of theory & conclude specifically what is
true or what is right

6. THE TESTING OF HYPOTHESIS
3 Phases of process:
1.Contructing a hypothesis
2.Gathering appropriate evidence
3.Analysing the evidence to draw
conclusion as to its validity
* The process of validation should
be free from any bias.

7. CHARACTRISTICS OF HYPOTHESIS
1. It should be simple, specific &
conceptually clear
2. It should be capable of
verification
3. It should be related to the
existing body of knwledge
4. It should be operationalisable

8. Types of Hypotheses
A. Research Hypothesis
B. Alternate hypothesis
* The formulation of Alternate
Hypothesis is to explicitly specify the
relationship that will be considered
as true in case the reasearch
hypothesis proves to be wrong. It is
the opposite of research hypothesis
& is conventionally, a Null hypothesis
or hypothesis of no difference.

9. 1. a Hypothesis stipulating that there is no
difference between two situations ,
groups, outcomes, or the prevalence of
the condition or phenomenon is called a
Null Hypothesis is written as HO.
2. a hypothesis in which a researcher
stipulates that there will be a difference
but does not specify its magnitude is
called Hypothesis of Difference.
3. When a researcher speculate the exact
prevalence of the situation or the
outcome of the treatment program in
quantitative unit is called hypothesis of
point of prevalence

10. EXAMPLE
In a clinical trial of a new drug, the null hypothesis
might be that the new drug is no better, on
average, than the current drug.
We would write H0: there is no difference
between the two drugs on average.
The hypothesis of difference might be that:
the new drug has a different effect, on average,
compared to that of the current drug.

11. Hypothesis of point of prevalence:
A total of 60 percent of females
and 30 percent of males in the
study population are smokers.
Hypothesis of Association: stipulates
the extent of the relationship in
terms of the effects of different
treatment groups on the dependent
variables /the prevalence of
phenomenon in different population
groups

12. Formulating a hypothesis
…is important to narrow a question down to one that
can reasonably be studied in a research project.
The formulation of the hypothesis basically varies
with the kind of research project conducted:
QUALITATIVE
QUANTITATIVE
Can also be divided into:
DEDUCTIVE: Observation Pattern Tentative
Hypothesis Theory
DEDUCTIVE: Theory hypothesis
Observation
Confirmation

13. Qualitative Approach
The use of Research Questions as opposed to objectives or
hypothesis, is more frequent.
Characteristics
* Use of words-what or how. Specify whether the study:
discovers, seeks to understand, explores or describes the
experiences.
* Use of non-directional wording in the question. These
questions describe, rather than relate variables or compare
groups.
* The questions are under continual review and reformulation-
will evolve and change during study.
* The questions are usually open-ended, without reference to
the literature or theory.
* Use of a single focus.

14. Quantitative Approach In survey projects the use of
research questions and objectives is more frequent
In experiments the use of hypotheses are more
frequent
Represent comparison between variables
relationship between variables
Characteristics
* The testable proposition to be deduced from theory.
* Independent and dependent variables to be
separated and measured separately.
* To be either writing-questions, or objectives or
hypotheses, but not a combination.
* Consider the alternative forms for writing and make
a choice based on the audience for the research

15. ERRORS IN TESTING HYPOTHESIS
Incorrect conclusions about the validity of
hypothesis may draw if:
• The study design selected is faulty
• The sampling procedures adopted is
faulty
• The method of data collection is
inaccurate
• The analysis is wrong
• The statistical procedures applied are
inappropriate
• Or, the conclusions drawn are incorrect

16. TYPES OF ERROR:
Type I Error -- Rejection of a Null
Hypothesis when it is true.
Type II Error ---Acceptance of a Null
Hypothesis when it is false

17. HOW ARE HYPOTHESES WRITTEN?
Chocolate may cause pimples.
Salt in soil may affect plant growth.
Plant growth may be affected by the color
of the light.
Ultra violet light may cause skin cancer.
Temperature may cause leaves to change
color.

18. Formalized Hypotheses example:
If skin cancer is related to ultraviolet
light , then people with a high
exposure to uv light will have a
higher frequency of skin cancer.
If leaf color change is related to
temperature , then exposing plants
to low temperatures will result in
changes in leaf color.

19. The ultimate value of
a hypothesis is, it
forces us to think
about what results
we should look for in
an experiment.

20. THANK YOU