What is Hypothesis

 What is a Hypothesis in this Hypothetical World?

Hypothesis:

A hypothesis is an explanation for an observed problem or phenomenon based on previous knowledge or observations. Often called a research question, a hypothesis is basically an idea that must be put to the test. 

    Research questions should lead to clear, testable predictions. The more specific these predictions are, the easier it is to reduce the number of ways in which the results could be explained. Some problems require a fair amount of information and knowledge before one can formulate useful hypotheses, particularly if the problems are complex in nature.

Characteristics of hypothesis: Hypothesis must possess the following characteristics:

1. Hypothesis should be clear and precise. If the hypothesis is not clear and precise, the inferences drawn on its basis cannot be taken as reliable.
2. Hypothesis should be capable of being tested. In a swamp of untestable hypotheses,  many a time the research programmes have bogged down. Some prior studies may be done by researchers in order to make the hypothesis a testable one. A hypothesis “is testable  if other deductions can be made from it which, in turn, can be confirmed or disproved by observation.”
3. Hypothesis should state the relationship between variables if it happens to be a relational hypothesis.
4. Hypothesis should be limited in scope and must be specific. A researcher must remember that narrower hypotheses are generally more testable and he should develop such hypotheses.
5. Hypothesis should be stated as far as possible in most simple terms so that the same is easily understandable by all concerned. But one must remember that simplicity of hypothesis has nothing to do with its significance.
6. Hypothesis should be consistent with most known facts i.e., it must be consistent with a substantial body of established facts. In other words, it should be one which judges accept as being the most likely.
7. Hypothesis should be amenable to testing within a reasonable time. One should not use even an excellent hypothesis, if the same cannot be tested in a reasonable time for one cannot spend a life-time collecting data to test it.
8. Hypothesis must explain the facts that gave rise to the need for explanation. This means that by using the hypothesis plus other known and accepted generalizations, one should be able to deduce the original problem condition. Thus hypothesis must actually explain what it claims to explain; it should have empirical reference.

BASIC CONCEPTS CONCERNING TESTING OF HYPOTHESES:

Basic concepts in the context of testing hypotheses need to be explained.

Null hypothesis and alternative hypothesis: In the context of statistical analysis, we often talk about null hypothesis and alternative hypothesis. If we are to compare method A with method B about its superiority and if we proceed on the assumption that both methods are equally good, then this assumption is termed as the null hypothesis. As against this, we may think that method A is superior or method B is inferior; we are then stating what is termed as the alternative hypothesis. The null hypothesis is generally symbolized as 𝐻0 and the alternative hypothesis as 𝐻𝑎.

Any comments or suggestions are welcome.

Thanks for reading this blog.