The Research Hypothesis

• A hypothesis is a tentative prediction or

explanation of the relationship between two

or more variables.

• A hypothesis translates the problem

statement into a precise, unambiguous

prediction of expected outcomes.

Example: the problem statement might ask:

Does room temperature affect the optimal

placement time of rectal temperature

measurements in adults?

-As a tentative solution to this problem, the

research might predict the following: cooler

room temp require longer placement times

for rectal temp measurements in adults than

warmer room temp.

Purposes of hypotheses:-

1. Through hypotheses theoretical propositions

is supported, scientific knowledge is gained.

Negative findings are sometimes as important as

positive ones.

2. Hypotheses guide the research design and

dictate the type of statistical analysis to be

used with the data.

-Hypotheses provide the reader with an

understanding of the researcher’s

expectations about the study before data

collection.

Characteristics of workable hypotheses

1. Statement of anticipated relationships

It must states the predicted relationship

between 2 or more variables.

The prediction “ pregnant women who receive

prenatal training will have favorable reactions

to the labor and delivery experience”

Is not a scientifically acceptable hypothesis

because this statement expresses no

anticipated relationship.

If your hypothesis lacks a phrase such as

“more than” “less than” greater than”

“different from” “related to ” or some thing

similar, you may need to reformulate your

prediction.

• Example: Small group teaching will be

better than individualized teaching for

dietary compliance in diabetic pts.

• Words such as should, ought, better and

bad for are not scientifically testable.

•3. Justifiability.

•4. Contains the population and

variables.

•5. Reflects the problem statement:

congruency in a must.

• Simple vs. complex hypotheses.

• (univarite) ( multivariate)

• Directional vs. Non- Directional hypotheses:-

• - A directional hypothesis is one that

specifies the expected direction of the

relationship between variables.

• That is , the researcher predicts not only the

existence of a relationship, but also the

nature (type) of the relationship.

• A non- directional hypothesis:

• Predicts that two or more variables are

related but makes no projections about the

exact nature of the association.

• Deductive hypotheses derived from theory

will almost always be directional.

• Research hypotheses are statements of

expected relationships between variables.

• Null hypotheses state that there is no

relationship between the independent variables

and dependent variables.

• The aim of the researcher is to reject the null

hypothesis.