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IJNSPR (2018) 78–80 © JournalsPub 2018. All Rights Reserved Page 78
International Journal of Nursing Science Practice and Research
ISSN: 2455-6351
Vol. 4: Issue 2
www.journalspub.com
Hypothesis Types and Research
Anupama K.*
Associate Professor, Guru Nanak College of Nursing, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
ABSTRACT
A hypothesis is a statement of the researcher’s expectation or prediction about relationship
among study variables. The research process begins and ends with the hypothesis. It is core to
the entire procedure and, therefore, is of the utmost importance. Hypothesis is nothing but the
heat of the research. In the research without hypothesis, research cannot service properly. The
researcher question identifies the study concepts and asks how the concepts might be related a
hypothesis is the predicted answer. Three basic aspects important in the hypothesis are:
difference that we are trying to find out, relationship, and the interactions. In relationship, we
are trying to understand statistically significant relationship that means the difference in result
did not occur by chance but due to statistical reasons. It means results are statistically
significance. If the difference is caused by chance, then results are not statically significant.
Normally when we are stating a hypothesis there is an independent variable and dependent
variable. Independent variable cause and dependent variable is effect. A hypothesis ensures the
entire research process remains scientific and reliable. Though hypotheses are essential during
the research process, it can produce complications with regards to probability, significance
and errors. A hypothesis is an educational guess/predication based on observations. On this
account researcher is in present paper mainly high kite the significance of the hypothesis and
its importance in research methodology.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37628/ijnspr.v4i2.812
Keywords: concept, meaning of hypothesis, types of hypothesis
*Corresponding Author
E-mail: anupama20dayanand@gmail.com
INTRODUCTION
Hypothesis is a tentative solution to a
problem, it means before finding the
results based on the review of literature we
are going to formulate a hypothesis based
on problem. When we are defining a
problem, for example: problem of
urbanization is more common in smaller
cities compare to bigger cite based on this
hypothesis based on this statement
investigator can state the hypothesis [1].
WHAT IS HYPOTHESIS?
A hypothesis is a prediction, almost
always a prediction about the relationship
between variables. A hypothesis is a
specific statement of prediction [1].
CONCEPT OF HYPOTHESIS
A hypothesis is a statement of the
researcher’s expectation or prediction
about relationship among study variables.
The researcher question identifies the
study concepts and asks how the concepts
might be related a hypothesis is the
predicted answer [1].
Example: Smaller urban centers are
growing at faster phase but this is a
tentative solution to a problem. Here, we
have not yet done the research or not yet
come to the results; based on the review of
literature we are trying to lay down
tentative solution to the problem. Once we
have stated this hypothesis, we work
Hypothesis Types and Research Anupama
IJNSPR (2018) 78–80 © JournalsPub 2018. All Rights Reserved Page 79
forward with a research problem and see
towards the end whether we proved this
hypothesis or disapprove. That means
hypothesis which we have drawn is based
on some insufficient evidence and this
could be either true or false.
When we are formulating hypothesis, we
must see these aspects.
• Tentative solution to problem may or
may not be correct.
• Clear, precise, testable, and consistent
with facts.
• Provide answer to problem, logical
simplicity with the data we are
providing.
Three basic aspects important in the
hypothesis are: difference that we are
trying to find out, relationship, and the
interactions. In relationship, we are trying
to understand statistically significant
relationship that means the difference in
result did not occur by chance but due to
statistical reasons. [2].
WHY HYPOTHESIS IS
IMPORTANT?
Because it helps us to
• Replicate research
• Draw logical conclusion
• Relation between variables
• Provides a statement deduced from
theory
• Select facts
• Direction to research
BASIC TYPES OF HYPOTHESIS
Null Hypothesis vs. Alternative
Hypothesis
Null Hypothesis (also called statistical
hypothesis) states that there is no
relationship between two variables.
Example: We can take an example of ice
cream. Child has formulated null
hypothesis to his father stating that eating
ice cream has no relation with running
temperature, i.e., null hypothesis. But
father is trying to say that eating ice cream
has relation with running temperature, i.e.,
alternative hypothesis.
In null hypothesis, researcher is trying to
explain that relationship is by chance, there
is no statistically significance relation
between two variables and relationship is
occurring just because of chance. However,
in alternative hypothesis, we are trying to
prove that there is a relation between eating
ice cream and running temperature. Finally,
when we are accepting hypothesis then null
hypothesis would be rejected vice versa [1].
Substantive vs. Statistical Hypothesis
Substantive hypothesis is not
operationalized and it explains a kind of
expected relationship between the
variables that exists. So, if we want to lay
down hypothesis with the example of
eating ice cream and suffering from fever,
it has some kind of relation. In statistical
hypothesis, hypothesis formulated here has
a statistical significant relation between
eating ice cream and suffering from fever
and that is operationalized by means of
statistical parameters, this could be done
using t-test ...so on [2].
Simple vs. Complex Hypothesis
Simple Hypothesis
There is one independent variable and one
dependent variable. Example eating ice
cream leads to running temperature that is
kind of simple hypothesis.
Complex Hypothesis
In complex hypothesis, we have two or
more independent and two or more
dependent variable. So, here hypothesis
could be example eating ice cream in cold
weather leads to running temperature and
absenteeism in school.
Two independent variables would be
eating ice cream and cold weather, and on
other side two dependent variable would
be running temperature and absenteeism in
the school [3].
IJNSPR (2018) 78–80 © JournalsPub 2018. All Rights Reserved Page 80
International Journal of Nursing Science Practice and Research
eISSN: 2455-6351
Vol. 4: Issue 2
www.journalspub.com
Practical vs. Statistical Hypothesis
This is a statement that describes the
practical question to be answered by the
test. It phrase as a question.
Example: Eating ice cream leads to
absenteeism in the school so, that would
be one kind of practical outcome because
of eating ice cream the child is not well,
and child is not able to go to school. So,
ultimate practical outcome would be
absenteeism to school that would be kind
of practical hypothesis.
Positive, Negative or Null Hypothesis
In null hypothesis again, we have the
example of child who tries to emphasize
on the father that there is no relation in
eating ice cream and running temperature
that means there is no relation between
independent and dependent variable.
Positive hypothesis would explain that
eating ice cream leads to fever. This is a
kind of positive hypothesis.
In negative hypothesis, eating ice cream
does not lead to good health, so it could be
a kind of negative hypothesis.
Universal vs. Existential Hypothesis
In universal hypothesis, we try to explain
that all variables are true at all times or at a
given point of time.
Example: eating ice cream in winter leads
to a temperature that could be a kind of
universally accepted statement that is true
always because eating ice cream might
lead to temperature in cold weather.
However, in existential statement we try to
explain that they should exist at least for
one particular case.
Example eating ice cream leads temperature
for some children would be a kind of
existential hypothesis because if one child
catches fever because of eating ice cream
that could be an existential hypothesis.
CONCLUSION
Hypothesis is prediction of what study will
find it is an empirical statement verified
and based upon observation or experience.
Hypothesis is testable to be true/false
through the research study findings.
REFERENCES
[1] Dennis F. Polit. Nursing Research:
Generating and Assessing Evidence
for Nursing Practice, 9th edition.
New Delhi: Lippincott Williams and
Wilkins; 2012, 58–93p.
[2] Nursing Research society of India,
Nursing research and statistics, 1st
edition. India: Pearson Publication;
2013, 48–51p.
[3] Polit DF, Hungler BP. Nursing
Research Principles and Methods.
Philadelphia: Lippincott; 1999.
