This document discusses how to formulate research hypotheses. It states that hypotheses should be written before a study begins and not changed later. Hypotheses use null and alternative forms, and directional alternative forms are better. A good hypothesis includes the dependent and independent variables, their relationship, the population studied, and significance level. It provides an example hypothesis about different dressings and bleeding complications. Additional tips are that hypotheses must be testable, use present tense, contain a single prediction, and ideally be limited to six or fewer. Criteria for evaluating hypotheses include clarity, structure, variables, population, testability and significance level. A well-stated hypothesis predicts the relationship between dependent and independent variables for a population at a given significance

1. Formulating hypothesis

2. Introduction
• Hypotheses are usually formulated in quantitative research
studies, which investigate the interplay of dependent and
independent variables such as experimental and correlation
research studies, while in other studies use of hypothesis is
inappropriate. There is no single way to develop an excellent
hypothesis.

3. Contd..
• However, researchers employ inductive and deductive
reasoning on available theory and knowledge to formulate a
hypothesis.
• In addition, there are several factors that must be considered
while formulating an excellent research hypothesis. Some
essential points to be considered are discussed below:

4. Contd...
1)Hypotheses are always written before starting the study and
should not be changed after the study results are examined.
2. Researcher uses null form as well as alternative form for
formulating research hypothesis. It is better to use directional
alternative forms of research hypotheses for research studies.
3. The following four main components of a hypothesis must be
considered while formulating a research hypothesis.

5. Contd….
 Dependent and independent variables
 Nature of relationship between dependent and independent
variables
Subjects in population being studied.
The level of significance for accepting/ rejecting the hypothesis

6. • For example patients underwent angiography receiving transparent film
dressing have fewer bleeding complications compared to patients who
receive pressure dressing.
Dependent variable: Bleeding complication.
Independent variable: Type of dressing at angiography site (transparent
film vs. pressure dressing).
Relationship between dependent and independent variables:
Predicting fewer bleeding complications among patients receiving
transparent film dressing as compared to patients with pressure dressing.
 Subjects in population being studied: Patients who under went
angiography.

7. Contd...
4.Hypothesis must be stated in empirically testable form. For example,
nurse practitioners are better health care providers than physicians. In
this example, the hypothesis is not empirically testable because better
is a value word that cannot be objectively measured. Therefore to make
this hypothesis empirically testable it may be stated as nursing
practitioners spent more time in teaching their clients about preventive
health care practice than do physician. In this the term time can be
measured empirically.

8. Contd…
5. Hypothesis should be stated using declarative sentence and
present tense. For example, critically ill patient receives
continuous nasogastric feeding experiences fewer
gastrointestinal problems as compared to patients who receive
bolus nasogastric feeding.
6.It is better that one hypothesis contains only single predication
about relationships of study variables.

9. Contd...
7.Ideally, the number of hypothesis should be restricted to six or
less because more number of hypotheses leads to confusion and
increased work in data collection, analysis, and interpretations
of data.

10. CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION OF
RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
1.Is each hypothesis clearly and precisely worded?
2. Is the hypothesis written as a declarative sentence?
3. Is the hypothesis written in present tense?
4. Is the hypothesis derived from and linked to research problem,
study variable, operational definition and relevant theories ?
5.Does hypothesis present dependent and independent variables?

11. Cont….
6.Is hypothesis present the population under study?
7.Is each hypothesis stated as directional research hypothesis?
8. Is each hypothesis empirically testable?
9. Does each hypothesis contain only single predication about
relationships of study variables?
10.Is each hypothesis stated with level of significance for testing
the hypothesis.

12. A Example of a Well-Stated Hypothesis
• A well-stated research hypothesis is writ- ten in declarative
directional-alternative form, which predicts the nature of
relation- ship between dependent and independent variables and
also including population under study. E.g There is a significant
positive correlation between years of experience and level of
nurses job satisfaction..