Hypothesis

HYPOTHESIS
Hypothesis 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 a true statement that is
tested in the research to check its authenticity.
Sometimes, it is very difficult to start a research without having a valid foundation. Hence, the research
builds a logical relationship between various phenomena to start working on the research. This logical
relationship is relevant to the theme of the research. This logical relationship between various phenomena
is called a hypothesis. This logical relationship or testable assumption gives a direction to the research,
specifies the focus of the research and helps in framing research techniques.
For instance, a researcher, working on a topic ‘Discrimination against Women in a Rural

Society’, will construct the following hypotheses:
1. Higher the illiteracy in a society, higher will be the discrimination against the women.
2. Higher the patriarchy in a society, higher will be the discrimination against the women.
3. Higher the traditional practices in a society, higher will be discrimination against the women.
Similarly, a researcher working on a topic ‘Extent of Use of Family-Planning Practice in an

area’ will devise the following hypothesis:
1. Higher the standard of education, higher will be the use of family-planning practice.
2. Higher the availability of family-planning services, higher will be the use of family planning
practice.
3. Higher the standards of living, higher will be the use of family-planning practice.
Characteristics of Hypothesis
1. Empirically Testable
2. Simple and Clear
3. Specific and relevant
4. Predictable
5. Manageable
Importance of Hypothesis
1. It gives a direction to the research.
2. It species the focus of the researcher.
3. It helps in devising research techniques.
4. It prevents from blind research.
5. It ensures accuracy and precision.
6. It saves resources – time, money and energy.
TYPES OF HYPOTHESIS
The types of hypotheses are as follows:
1. Simple Hypothesis
2. Complex Hypothesis
3. Working or Research Hypothesis
4. Null Hypothesis
5. Alternative Hypothesis
6. Logical Hypothesis
7. Statistical Hypothesis
1. Simple Hypothesis
A simple hypothesis is a hypothesis that reflects a relationship between two variables –
independent and dependent variable.
Examples:
a) Higher the unemployment, higher would be the rate of crime in society.
b) Lower the use of fertilizers, lower would be agricultural productivity.
c) Higher the poverty in a society, higher would be the rate of crimes
2. Complex Hypothesis
A complex hypothesis is a hypothesis that reflects relationship among more than two variables.
Examples:
a) Higher the poverty, higher the illiteracy in a society, higher will be the rate of crime
(three variables – two independent variables and one dependent variable)
b) Lower the use of fertilizer, improved seeds and modern equipment’s, lower would be the
agricultural productivity (Four variable – three independent variables and one dependent
variable)
c) Higher the illiteracy in a society, higher will be poverty and crime rate. (three variables –
one independent variable and two dependent variables)
3. Working Hypothesis
A hypothesis, that is accepted to put to test and work on in a research, is called a working
hypothesis. It is a hypothesis that is assumed to be suitable to explain certain facts and
relationship of phenomena. It is hoped that this hypothesis would generate a productive theory
and is accepted to put to test for investigation.
It can be any hypothesis that is processed for work during the research.
4. Alternative Hypothesis
If the working hypothesis is proved wrong or rejected, another hypothesis (to replace the working
hypothesis) is formulated to be tested to generate the desired results – this is known as an
alternate hypothesis.
As the name mentions, it is an alternate assumption (a relationship or an explanation) which is
adopted after the working hypothesis fails to generate required theory. Alternative Hypothesis is
denoted by H1
5. Null Hypothesis
A null hypothesis is a hypothesis that expresses no relationship between variables. It negates
association between variables.
Examples:
a) Poverty has nothing to do with the rate of crime in a society.
b) Illiteracy has nothing to do with the rate of unemployment in a society.
A null hypothesis has its purpose. A null hypothesis is made with an intention where the
researcher wants to disapprove, reject or nullify the null hypothesis to confirm a relationship
between the variables. A null hypothesis is usually made for a reverse strategy – to prove it
wrong in order to confirm that there is a relationship between the variables. A null hypothesis is
denoted by HO.
6. Statistical Hypothesis
A hypothesis, that can be verified statistically, is known as a statistical hypothesis.
It can be any hypothesis that has the quality of being verified statistically. It means using
quantitative techniques, to generate statistical data, can easily verify it. It can also be said that the
variables in a statistical hypothesis can be transformed into quantifiable sub-variable to test it
statistically.
7. Logical Hypothesis
A hypothesis, that can be verified logically, is known as a logical hypothesis.
It is a hypothesis expressing a relationship whose inter-links can be joined on the basis of logical
explanation. It is can be verified by logical evidence. Being verified logically does not necessarily mean
that it cannot be verified statistically. It may or may not be verified statistically but it can be verified
logically.

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HYPOTHESIS

For instance, a researcher, working on a topic ‘Discrimination against Women in a Rural

Similarly, a researcher working on a topic ‘Extent of Use of Family-Planning Practice in an

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