🧪 Hypothesis Development — Step-by-Step

 

🧪 Hypothesis Development — Step-by-Step

#Hypothesis | #QuantitativeResearch | #ResearchDesign | #ResearchMitra

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🧠 What Is a Hypothesis?

A hypothesis is a tentative explanation or prediction that can be tested through empirical investigation. It's a crucial component of quantitative research and guides your data collection and analysis.

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🧾 Characteristics of a Good Hypothesis

✅ Testable
✅ Falsifiable
✅ Clear and specific
✅ Based on theory or prior literature
✅ States a relationship between variables

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🧱 Steps to Formulate a Hypothesis

1. Identify the Research Problem

   What question are you trying to answer?

2. Do a Literature Review

   What does existing research say?

3. Identify Variables

   Determine independent and dependent variables.

4. Define the Relationship

   Is it a correlation, cause-effect, or difference?

5. Write the Hypothesis

   Use a clear “if…then” or relational format.

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🧪 Types of Hypotheses

• Null Hypothesis (H₀): No relationship exists

• Alternative Hypothesis (H₁): A relationship exists

• Directional: Specifies direction (e.g., increases, decreases)

• Non-directional: States a difference without a direction

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📌 Examples

Research Topic: Impact of online learning on student performance

• H₀: There is no significant difference in performance between online and classroom learners.

• H₁: Students learning online perform better than those in traditional classrooms.

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✏️ Pro Tip:

Use SMART criteria (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) when writing hypotheses.

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📚 Recommended Reading:

• “Research Methodology” by C.R. Kothari

• “Business Research Methods” by Zikmund et al.