Introduction to hypothesis, definitions, source, importance, features and types. Detailed description of types of Hypothesis with explanations. Use of hypothesis in research and important points to notice while selecting types of hypothesis.

1. HYPOTHESIS
-KIRTI RASHMI

2. Topics to be covered:
• Meaning and definitions
• Importance
• Sources
• Features
• Types
• Conclusion

3. Meaning and Definition of Hypothesis:
• Hypothesis is a supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence/
knowledge as starting point for further investigation. It is a tentative statement or provisional
assumption about a particular phenomenon, the reality of which is not known to the researcher
and so he furthers studies it in detail and conducts tests to prove or disprove it.
• Bailey- A hypothesis is a preposition in testable form and predicts a particular relationship
between two or more variables. If a researcher thinks that a relationship exists, he should first
state it as a hypothesis and then test the hypothesis in the field.
• Black and Champion- A tentative statement, the validity of which is not known.
• Goode and Hatt- A preposition which can be put to a test to determine its validity.

4. Importance:
• Prevents blind research.
• Brings clarity, precision and focus in research process.
• Facilitation of aspects which has to be further investigated.
• Enhances objectivity.
• Provides temporary theory which after verification, becomes a well accepted theory.
• Provides direction to the research by defining variables.
Sources:
• General culture
• Scientific theory
• Analogies
• Personal experience
• Observation
• Findings from other studies

5. Characteristics:
• Conceptual clarity
• Verifiable
• Specificity
• Testability
• Objectivity
• Simplicity
• Consistency
• Relational
• Raises relatable questions
Example of hypothesis in socio-legal research_x0002_
If the topic of research is – Discrimination against women in rural society.
Hypothesis can be- Higher the illiteracy in society, higher will be the discrimination against women.

6. Types of Hypothesis
• Simple
• Complex
• Casual
• Empirical
• Descriptive
• Relational
• Null
• Statistical
• Common sense
• No Difference
• Logical
• Alternate
• Declarative
• Directional
• Non Directional
• Analytical
• Associate
• Working
• Testable

7. EXPLANATION
• Descriptive hypothesis describes the characteristics of the variables (situation, character, event, person etc.).
E.g. the rate of unemployment in arts graduate is higher than commerce graduate. Relational hypothesis
describes the relationship between two variables. E.g. family on higher income(V1)spend more on recreation
(V2).
• Working hypothesis is modified at each stage by the researcher as the hypothesis formed at the initial stage
may not be specific and they may vary.
• Null hypothesis is a hypothesis that expresses no relationship between variables. The hypothesis is denied by
the materials available. It is denoted by H0. E.g. skin problems are not caused by chemical X in the beauty
products.
• Statistical hypothesis is a hypothesis which can be numerically measured through ratio, bar graph, pie chart
etc. e.g. statement about statistical population.
• Common sense hypothesis is a hypothesis based on empirical uniformities, seen through day to day
observations. E.g. social background of workers.
• Hypothesis of no difference is a hypothesis where there is no difference between two groups, situations,
phenomena. E.g. girls and boys performed equally well in test.
• Associate hypothesis predicts an associative relationship between independent an dependent variables that
occurs or exists in natural settings without manipulation. When there is change in any one of the variables,
changes also occur in the other variable. E.g. the lower the blood sugar level, the lesser is the risk of infection
among diabetic patients.

8. CONTD.
• Alternate hypothesis is a hypothesis which rejects null hypothesis. It provides alternate assumption or
relationship
• or an explanation. It is denoted by H1. E.g. skin problems are caused by chemical X in the beauty products.
• Declarative hypothesis is a hypothesis which declares relationship between two variables. E.g. skin problems are
• caused by chemical X and not chemical Y in skin products.
• Directional hypothesis is a hypothesis which states the direction of differences or association between two
variables. E.g. 1. drug A is not effective than drug B : Directional Null hypothesis. 2. Drug A is more effective
than drug B: Directional Alternate hypothesis.
• Non directional hypothesis states only the difference or association and does not give the direction. E.g.1. There
is no difference between effectiveness of drug A and drug B : Non directional null hypothesis. 2. There is
difference between the effectiveness of drug A and drug B : Non directional alternate hypothesis.
• Analytical hypothesis states the relationship between analytical variables. It specifies the relationship between
changes in one variable in relation to changes in the other variable. E.g. Deforestation leads to ecological
imbalance.
• Simple hypothesis establishes the relationship between two variable. E.g. higher rate of unemployment leads
tocrime.
• Complex hypothesis establishes relationship between more than two variables. E.g. smoking leads to
cancer,tension, chest infections etc.
• Casual hypothesis establishes cause and effect relation between two variables. E.g. smoking causes cancer.

9. CONTD.
• Empirical hypothesis is the use of working hypothesis that can be tested using observation and experiment. E.g.
roses watered with liquid vitamin B grows faster than roses watered with liquid vitamin E.
• Logical hypothesis is a hypothesis which can be verified logically. J.S Mill has given four canons of this
hypothesis-Agreement, Disagreement, difference and Residue. E.g. if it is raining, the ground will be wet.
• In Testable hypothesis, the variables are testable or measurable. E.g. increase I patient’s body temperature
• causes increase in patients' pulse rate.

10. CONCLUSION
In a nutshell, once the researcher identifies the problem, he formulate it into a research problem. After
brainstorming, he comes to a tentative conclusion, known as hypothesis on the basis of which research is
carried out to check its correctness.
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