Writing good hypothesis is necessary to conduct focused research and enable researcher to derive the most probable timely valid conclusion. In short, a good hypothesis facilitates speedy and focused investigation and research outcomes. Further, it inspires to do more research.
Understanding hypothesis
Simply, hypothesis is a logical guess, prediction or explanation of any problem you plan to solve. However, writing hypothesis that is specific, testable, and falsifiable in research is not so easy. In other words, hypothesis is a logical prediction about what is going to happen based on either observations or prior knowledge.
As a rule, it correlate between independent and dependent variables. Technically, no hypothesis is proved but either supported or rejected. It always been targeted to ongoing problems or to fill the knowledge gap between prior and present findings.
“Women who eat nutritious diet during pregnancy have few complications than women who don’t afford to eat so”.
If you avoid diet with high carbs daily, it will help you to lose weight quickly.
In the first example, two variables, independent and dependent, are correlated to form a hypothesis. Whereas, in the second example, cause-effect relations are predicted by conditional statement.
How to write a good researchable hypothesis?
You know that a good hypothesis predicts a causal link between independent and dependent variables. So, before to proceed, you should have proper understanding of issue in question.
Second, study existing literature, research papers, articles to know the knowledge gap to fill. Because, the purpose of hypothesis is to test existing theories. So, before to provide tentative explanation, you should go through the existing knowledge base to launch logical prediction.
Third, you know that hypothesis is a proposed logical explanation or answer. It needs to be tested in the light of empirical data. Hence, it should fulfill entire criterion.
Fourth, find out two causal variables to predict link between. And formulate a testable declarative statement. Let’s know in detail about variables.
Independent and dependent variables
Dependent and independent variables are necessary condition to form a good hypothesis. Independent variable determines the fate of dependent. Dependent variable directly get affected by any changes made in independent. Usually, researchers manipulate the independent variable to bring desired results.
Defining variables
Both variables are changeable factors or conditions you are observing events or phenomenon. They are correlated with each other as the dependent is an effect of independent variables.
“Children belong to poor income families have higher chances of malnutrition”.
It means that malnutrition is an effect of lower income. Here, poor income causes incidents of malnutrition in children. Simply, causal relationship between two different factors or conditions you are observing events or phenomenon is termed as variables.
“If you study properly, the chances of getting failure is unlikely”.
In this case, proper study is directly correlated with the success and failure of students. Therefore, one only could fail to succeed when he or she ignore to study properly.
Here, clearly, “If you study properly” is an independent; whereas, “The chances of getting failure is unlikely” dependent.
Why do researchers manipulate independent variable?
Usually, dependent always subject to affect with the changes made in independent. As the independent is causal force for dependent.
If you want to recorrect the negative results you are predicting, it is indispensable to manipulate independent variable. This is why researchers manipulate independent variable to affect dependent.
“Cotton crop is more favorable in black regur black soil”.
In this example, regur black soil affects the productivity of cotton production. This can be rewritten as like, “Cotton grown in regur black soil has more productivity.”
So, you need to cultivate cotton crop in the recommended soil to avoid loss of production. Otherwise, predicted loss is inevitable.
No variable could be absolutely true or false but relatively. Like hypothesis, variables too are subject to support instead proved.
For formulating a testable hypothesis, both independent and dependent variables and properly used to guide research.
Role of independent and dependent variables
Variables whether they are independent or dependent, are specific features or factors of a thing we research.
Changes either positive or negative made in the independent will definitely impact the nature and constituents of dependent in the same degree and intensity.
Independent variable has a causal force to bring changes in the dependent variable. It means that nothing is there to change the nature of independent variable.
In research, researchers always emphasis to manipulate independent variable so as to bring desired results in the dependent one.
Importance of variables in hypothesis formation
Between two variables, independent variable is vital as it is manipulated by research community. Hence, identifying independent variable is utmost important in scientific research process.
For example, in the above example, “Women who eat nutritious diet during pregnancy have few complications”, is the independent variable.
Second variable, “women who don’t afford to eat nutritious diet”, is totally depends on the earlier independent variable.
So, it is important to understand and correlate independent and dependent variables as conditions before any writing hypothesis.
In the process of research, researchers are going to collect data to support or reject the correlation between two conditions or variables.
Importantly, more the specific correlation between two variables in question, better the possibility of testing of given hypothesis. This is the reason why researchers advocate specific approach in forming hypothesis.
Final words on writing good hypothesis,
It is true that a specific, falsifiable, well testable hypothesis acts as engine in scientific research process. Because, the quality of hypothesis is necessary condition for the beginning of serious research. But, the quality as well as quantity of supporting statements decide the fate of research in general and hypothesis in particular.
Difference between research question and hypothesis
Application of cognitive domain of Bloom’s taxonomy
https://www.servicescape.com/blog/how-does-a-hypothesis-differ-from-a-research-question
https://www.monash.edu/library/help/assignments-research/developing-research-questions