FORMUL ATION OF

HYPOTHESIS
HYPOTHESES
What is a HYPOTHESIS??

HYPOTHESIS
• is a tentative conclusion or answer to a specific
question raised at the beginning of the
investigation.
• An educated guess.
• Statement about an expected relationship
between two or more variables that can be
empirically tested.
GUIDELINES IN
HYPOTHESIS
FORMUL ATION
1.The hypothesis must be clear and testable.

• Hypothesis should clearly and concisely state the

expected relationship (differences) between two
variable in operational, measurable terms.
• It should provide a good idea of what you plan to do
without being wordy.
Example:
“Extracts from Aloe vera will speed up regeneration of
planaria”
II. A Hypothesis should be based on past
experiences or observations on
information gathered from your
research.

• A good hypothesis is anchored on a sound and

comprehensive review of literature. As much as
possible an exhaustive survey of library readings
should be done before making a hypothesis.
III.A hypothesis must be testable.

• This means that your hypothesis can be proven

right or wrong depending on the outcome of the
experiment.
III. A hypothesis should state how, at the
very least, two factors relate.
• In the example of Planaria and aloe vera, the two
relating factors are amount of extract and
Planaria regeneration.
• It is also important to note that, when an
experiment fails, the hypothesis should not be
changed to conform to the results of the
experiment.
 T YPES OF
HYPOTHESIS
RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

• A research hypothesis is stated in declarative

form. It is derived from the literature review and
should suggest the outcome of the experiment.
• Also called as research hypothesis.
• Often, it contains an “if…..then” component that
predicts the effect of changing the independent
variable on the dependent variable.
Examples:
• Insect A develops resistance to Pesticide X
• If concentration of Substance A is increased,
then plant growth will be reduced.
• There is a significant relationship between
mass media exposure and attitude towards
land reform among lowland farmers.
STATISTICAL HYPOTHESIS
• Is stated in null form. As such, it is sometimes
referred to as null hypothesis.

Example:
• When a sample of insect A is regularly exposed
to Pesticide X for one week, 100% of the sample
will die, none will survive.
NULL HYPOTHESIS
• A negative statement which indicates the
absence of relationship/correlation between
two variables.
Examples:
• There is no significant relationship between
mass media exposure and attitude towards
land reform among lowland farmers.
DIRECTIONAL HYPOTHESIS
• States whether the relationship between
two variables is direct or inverse or positive
or negative.
• A positive or direct relationship is present
when the value of one variable increases
with the other.
• The relationship is negative when the value
of one variable increases as the other
decreases.