How to Write a Hypothesis for a Research Paper

Hypotheses are essential in science. The word ‘hypothesis’ is derived from the Greek words ‘hupo,’ meaning ‘under,’ and ‘thema,’ meaning ‘idea,.’ So, a hypothesis can be considered an idea held under consideration. In other words, it's a testable statement about the natural world.

Writing a hypothesis is one of the first steps in conducting any type of research. It is an important part of the scientific method. A hypothesis can be defined as an educated guess about how something works.

This blog post aims to provide you with a short guide on how to write a hypothesis. You will also find examples of hypotheses found in research papers across different disciplines (i.e., biology, chemistry, psychology).

What is a Hypothesis?

A hypothesis is a tentative explanation for the natural phenomena that have been observed. It is not a guess but rather an educated guess which will be proven or disproven through the research methods.

By considering the following questions, you will be able to generate a research hypothesis that is both clear and focused:

• Is your language concise?
• Is it easy for readers to follow what you're talking about? If not, then make sure sentences are short and broken up into chunks.
• What's its relationship with the topic of your paper or project in question - does one rely on another heavily while also being supported by other sources?
• Can this theory be tested somehow where an independent variable has been manipulated to observe any changes in independent variables over time (or vice versa)?
• Do parts of this work include something like "if...then"?

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Types of Research Hypothesis

The following are the most common types of hypotheses.

Let’s discuss them in detail.

• Simple Hypothesis

  Simple hypotheses give probabilities to potential observations. It is a testable prediction reflecting the relationship between a single dependent variable and a single independent variable.

• Complex Hypothesis

  A complex hypothesis describes how more than two variables relate to each other.

• Empirical Hypothesis

  The empirical hypothesis is not just an idea, but it becomes a reality when the theory begins to be put to tests through observation and experiment.

• Null Hypothesis

  It is donated by ‘HO..’ The null hypothesis suggests that there is no relationship between two variables.

• Alternative Hypothesis

  It is donated by ‘H1’. An alternative hypothesis is one in which the researchers describe a difference between more than two variables; that's to say - it can't be attributed to chance.

• Logical Hypothesis

  It is a proposed explanation that has limited to no evidence. Generally, a logical hypothesis is turned into an empirical hypothesis and put through the test.

• Statistical Hypothesis

  A statistical hypothesis is a guess about the population parameters or form of the distribution for designated populations. It can also be more broadly applied to any probabilistic mechanism that generates observations from which we want to draw conclusions.

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How to Write a Hypothesis?

A testable hypothesis can be written in different ways and for different areas. That’s why students usually ask the following questions.

• How to write a hypothesis statement?
• How to write a hypothesis in sociology?
• How to write a hypothesis in psychology?
• How to write a hypothesis in geography?
• How to write a hypothesis in a lab report?
• How to write a hypothesis in statistics?
• How to write a hypothesis for a science fair?
• How to write a hypothesis in the third person?
• How to Write a hypothesis for a research proposal?

The goal of any hypothesis is to offer an introduction to the scientific experiment and its intentions. Here are the steps that you need to follow for writing a compelling hypothesis.

• 1. Write Down the Problem that You Intend to Solve

  Make sure that the hypothesis clearly defines what your focus will be during experimentation. This helps readers understand why they want to join in on testing out hypotheses themselves or reading about various experiments with other scientists.

• 2. Try Constructing it as an if-then Sentence

  You can identify the variables in the if-then form where "if" starts with something like "If I do X" while also stating what would happen next - for example, 'Then Y.’ This way, even if people can't read through all of them, they'll get at least a glimpse into the key ideas.

• 3. Define the Variables
  • Independent variables are the factors that an experimenter controls. Independent variables in a study may be manipulated, controlled, or changed. They exist separate from other aspects of the research design because these things could affect the results.
  • The dependent variable is another word for 'response variable.’ It relies on something else to happen before you see any chance. This can be influenced by changes in the independent variable(s).

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Hypothesis Examples

A hypothesis is a statement that typically proposes the existence of a cause-and-effect relationship between two or more factors. It's best to write your hypothesis in simple, declarative sentences as opposed to statements phrased as questions like "Who will be better prepared for an English exam?" You should present it with confidence and not ask any rhetorical questions.

Here you can find some hypothesis examples for your better understanding.

• If students eat breakfast, they will have better performance on their maths exams.
• Plant growth is affected by the color of light.
• There is no relationship between flexible working arrangements and job satisfaction.
• Eating fast food leads to obesity.
• People who take vitamins every day do not feel tired.

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Writing Tips for a Great Hypothesis

The following are some expert tips on how to write a good hypothesis.

• Do not choose a random topic. Instead, take time and find something interesting to write about.
• Keep the hypothesis as concise, clear, and focused as possible; no more than one paragraph should suffice to introduce what you will do in the research.
• Make sure that when writing it out before conducting any research, there are defined independent and dependent variables.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 3 required parts of a hypothesis?

The three main parts of the hypothesis are:

• Problem
• Proposed solution
• Result

What are 5 characteristics of a good hypothesis?

The main five characteristics of a good hypothesis are:

1. Clarity
2. Relevant to problem
3. Consistency
4. Specific
5. Testability

What should not be characteristic of a hypothesis?

Complexity should not be a good characteristic of a hypothesis.