Formulating the research hypothesis follows the review of relevant literature and the formulation of the research problem and questions. Researchers develop a hypothesis to propose an answer to a specified problem. They create these hypotheses based on the information they have gathered. One or more hypotheses may be formed from a single piece of information since there are many possible solutions to a problem. Each potential solution must be tested, which implies that a hypothesis must be testable. Scientists and researchers conduct experiments and make observations to determine whether the outcomes of these experiments and observations support these hypotheses.
A research hypothesis is an assumption that provides a tentative explanation or answer to the research problem or question (Ramos et al., 2023). It serves as a proposed answer to a defined problem (Caintic, 2021) and defines the testable relationship that a researcher expects to observe when examining the variables in a study (Barrot, 2017).
Watch the following video about writing a research hypothesis.
COMPREHENSION CHECK QUESTION
According to the video, what is a research hypothesis? What should you remember when formulating a strong research hypothesis?
Characteristics of a Good Research Hypothesis
It includes both the independent (or predictor) variable and the dependent (or criterion) variable. The primary aim of the research hypothesis is to define the relationship between these two central variables: the independent variable and the dependent variable. For instance, you observed that guava leaves were used by your local herbalist to treat an infection on someone's wound. Knowing that this infection is bacterial in nature, you wonder: Do guava leaves inhibit bacterial growth? If so, how? In this case, the hypothesis would be: Guava leaves have an effect on bacterial infections.
It provides the direction of the study. The hypothesis stated above is good because it defines both variables—the guava leaves and the bacterial infection. However, it does not suggest a course of action for the research. A follow-up question can be asked: What is the effect of the leaves? To answer this, the hypothesis is refined by adding possible outcomes based on your research background. Thus, the hypothesis can now be stated as: The guava leaves affect the growth rate of the bacteria.
It is testable and measurable. The hypothesis must demonstrate that the study is feasible because it can be verified through testing and measurement. Exploring relevant literature on guava leaves and bacterial infections may lead you to experiments conducted in previous studies, aiding you in further refining the hypothesis. Therefore, the research hypothesis can be stated as follows: The phytochemical found in guava leaves can reduce the bacteria's growth rate by inhibiting their development.
It should be clear and comprehensible. The hypothesis must be presented directly so that readers can easily understand it.
It is falsifiable. After conducting the experiment, the collected data is analyzed and interpreted to determine whether the results support or refute the hypothesis. The hypothesis can be rejected if it is not supported by the research findings.