Prepared by SADIA ASLAM

Hypothesis and its types

Definition:
A hypothesis is a tentative relationship between two or more variables
which direct the research activity to test it.
A hypothesis is a testable prediction which is expected to occur. It can be a false or
true statement that is tested in the research to check its authenticity.
Importance of hypothesis:
1- It gives a direction to the research.
2- It specifies the focus of the researcher.
3- It helps in devising research techniques.
4- It prevents from blind research.
5- It ensures the accuracy and precision.
6- It saves resources time, money and energy.
Types of hypothesis:
1- Simple hypothesis:
It is a type of hypothesis that reflects a relationship
between two variables, that may be dependent or independent variables.
Example:
• Lower the use of fertilizer, lower would be the agricultural productivity.
• Higher the poverty in the society, higher the rate of crimes in the society.
2- Complex hypothesis:
A complex hypothesis is a hypothesis that reflects
relationship among more than two variables.
Example:
• Higher the poverty, higher the illiteracy in a society, higher will be the rate
of crime. (Two independent variables and one dependent variable).
3- Null hypothesis:
A null hypothesis is a type of hypothesis used in statistics that proposes that
no statistical significance exists in a set of given observations.
The null hypothesis attempts to show that no variation exists between variables or
that a single variable is no different than its mean.
Example:
• A gambler may be interested in whether a game of chance is fair.
4- Alternative hypothesis:
An alternative hypothesis is one that states there is a statistically significant
relationship between two variables.
5- Logical hypothesis:
A logical hypothesis is a proposed explanation possessing limited evidence.
Generally, you want to turn a logical hypothesis into an empirical hypothesis,
putting your theories or postulations to the test.
Example:
• Cacti experience more successful growth rates than tulips on Mars.
6- Directional hypothesis:
Directional hypothesis are those where one can predict the direction (effect
of one variable on the other as Positive or Negative).
Example:
• Girls perform better than boys (‘better than' shows the direction predicted).
7- Empirical hypothesis:
An empirical hypothesis, or working hypothesis, comes to life when a theory
is being put to the test, using observation and experiment.
Example:
• Pharmaceutical companies use empirical research to try out a specific drug
on controlled groups or random groups to study the effect and cause.
8- Casual hypothesis:
A causal hypothesis is one that suggests that a cause and effect relationship
exists between variables.
Example:
• Raising gas prices causes an increase in the number of people who carpool
to work.
9- Statistical hypothesis:
A statistical hypothesis is an assumption about a population parameter. This
assumption may or may not be true. Hypothesis testing refers to the formal
procedures used by statisticians to accept or reject statistical hypotheses.