Hypotheses

Question 1

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 1

• An assumption, proposed for the sake of argument, that can be tested
• An educated guess about what conclusions you might be able to draw from an experiment
• A statement that outlines the expected result of the experiment

Your hypothesis is essentially just a very clear prediction

Question 2

True or false: Any research idea that you come up with has to be translated into a research hypothesis

Answer 2

TRUE

Question 3

What are the characteristics of a good research hypothesis?

Answer 3

Logical: the logical conclusion of a logical argument

Testable: all of the variables, events, and individuals can be defined and observed

Refutable: can be demonstrated to be false

Positive: must make a positive statement about the existence of something

Question 4

What is a null hypothesis?

Answer 4

The claim that the effect being studied does not exist

We always begin with the assumption that the null hypothesis is true

• It is similar to the notion of innocent until proven guilty

Question 5

What is the research or alternative hypothesis?

Answer 5

A precise, testable statement that describes the expected outcome of a study
- Our goal in conducting the study is to provide support for the alternative hypothesis

Question 6

True or false: We can prove a hypothesis.

Answer 6

FALSE.

We can accept or reject a hypothesis but we cannot prove one