Research Skills: Week 75

HYPOTHESIS

Learn
A hypothesis can be defined as a logically conjectured relationship between two or more variables expressed in the form of a testable statement. By testing the hypothesis and confirming the conjectured relationships, it is expected that solutions can be found to correct the problem encountered.

Unlearn
Although hypothesis may sound easy to be defined, but one needs to understand there are 4 different types of hypothesis.

Relearn
Directional Hypothesis
If in stating the relationship between two variable or comparing two groups, terms such as POSITIVE, NEGATIVE, MORE THAN or LESS THAN are used, then these hypothesis are DIRECTIONAL.

Non Directional Hypothesis
On the other hand, non directional hypothesis postulate a relationship or difference, but offer no indication of the direction of these relationships or differences.

Null Hypothesis
The NULL hypothesis is a proposition that states a DEFINITE, EXACT relationship between two variables. It states that the population correlation between two variables is equal to zero or that the difference in the means of the two groups in the population is equal to zero (or some definite number)

Alternate Hypothesis
The alternate hypothesis which is the opposite of the null hypothesis is a statement expressing a relationship between two variables or indicating differences between groups.