Hypothesis

- Baraceros defines a hypothesis as a “tentative explanation

or an answer to a question about variables, their
relationship, and other facts involved in the research”.
Although research will always end with a result, you are
given the freedom to hypothesize, which means guessing or
inferring factual things related to your topic. Furthermore,
through inferential thingkin, you are able to “guess
something based not only whatever experience or factual
knowledge you have about such a things but also on
conclusions that were logically drawn by other research
studies”. Finally, to prove the validity of your hypothesis, it
has to undergo an analytical investigation.
Purpose of Hypothesis
1. They guide you on which aspect of the research to focus on.
2. They provide opportunities to prove the relationship
between
variables.
3. They give the right direction of the research.
4. They outline your thoughts on your manner of summarizing
the results and of explaining the conclusions.
5. They push for an empirical study to provethe existence of a
relationship of variables and the effects of the independent
variable on the dependent variable.
Hypotheses vs. Research Questions
- In any experimental research that uses the scientific
method, one of the first things to do is to formulate
research questions and hypotheses. Although both are
related and essential to your research, they difference
depend on the amount of knowledge on the topic you have.
If you have sufficient knowledge of the variables and other
factual data supported from your related literature, you
can form a hypothesis. However, if you do not have
sufficient knowledge, form research question. Either way,
“the purpose of these two forms of inferential thinking is to
propose propable or possible answers to solutions to the
research problem focused on by the study”.
Categories of Hypotheses
Null Hypothesis (Ho)
- states that there is no relationship between the
independent and dependent variables. Null hypothesis is a
statement that affirms that the independent variable does
not affect the dependent variable.

Alternative Hypothesis (Hi)

- states that relationship between the independent and
the dependent variables and the fact that the first affects
the second one.
Types of Hypotheses
1. Theory-driven vs. Data-driven Hypotheses
- Theory-driven hypothesis are based on existing theories and aim to explain
the relationship of the variables and how one variable affects the others. On the
other hand, data-driven hypotheses are based on the results and findings of other
research studies.
2. Directional (one-tailed) vs. Non-directional (two-tailed) Hypotheses
- Directional hypotheses state “the relationship of two variables as well as of
the relationship of these variables”. On the other hand, non-directional hypotheses
state “the relationship of variables but not on the direction of the relationship”.
3. Descriptive vs Casual Hypotheses
- Descriptive hypotheses specify the relationship among variables due to the
influence of something. This type of hypothesis is common in non-experimental
research. On the other hand, casual hypotheses specify the relationship among
variables due to to cause-effect relationship. This type of hypothesis is common in
experimental or quasi-experimental research.
Guidelines in Formulating
Hypotheses
1. Express your hypothesis in a declarative sentence.
2. Support your hypotheses with ideas based on theories, known
facts, previous studies, or your own experience and wisdom.
3. Establish a logical relationship between hypotheses and the
research problem.
4. Have your hypotheses predict the nature of the relationship
between or among variables.
5. Ascertain the possibility of having some means of testing,
analyzing, and investigating your hypotheses.
6. Avoid wordiness by using clear, exact, or specific language in
stating the hypotheses.