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What Is a Testable Hypothesis?
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- Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
- B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College
A hypothesis is a tentative answer to a scientific question. A testable hypothesis is a hypothesis that can be proved or disproved as a result of testing, data collection, or experience. Only testable hypotheses can be used to conceive and perform an experiment using the scientific method .
Requirements for a Testable Hypothesis
In order to be considered testable, two criteria must be met:
- It must be possible to prove that the hypothesis is true.
- It must be possible to prove that the hypothesis is false.
- It must be possible to reproduce the results of the hypothesis.
Examples of a Testable Hypothesis
All the following hypotheses are testable. It's important, however, to note that while it's possible to say that the hypothesis is correct, much more research would be required to answer the question " why is this hypothesis correct?"
- Students who attend class have higher grades than students who skip class. This is testable because it is possible to compare the grades of students who do and do not skip class and then analyze the resulting data. Another person could conduct the same research and come up with the same results.
- People exposed to high levels of ultraviolet light have a higher incidence of cancer than the norm. This is testable because it is possible to find a group of people who have been exposed to high levels of ultraviolet light and compare their cancer rates to the average.
- If you put people in a dark room, then they will be unable to tell when an infrared light turns on. This hypothesis is testable because it is possible to put a group of people into a dark room, turn on an infrared light, and ask the people in the room whether or not an infrared light has been turned on.
Examples of a Hypothesis Not Written in a Testable Form
- It doesn't matter whether or not you skip class. This hypothesis can't be tested because it doesn't make any actual claim regarding the outcome of skipping class. "It doesn't matter" doesn't have any specific meaning, so it can't be tested.
- Ultraviolet light could cause cancer. The word "could" makes a hypothesis extremely difficult to test because it is very vague. There "could," for example, be UFOs watching us at every moment, even though it's impossible to prove that they are there!
- Goldfish make better pets than guinea pigs. This is not a hypothesis; it's a matter of opinion. There is no agreed-upon definition of what a "better" pet is, so while it is possible to argue the point, there is no way to prove it.
How to Propose a Testable Hypothesis
Now that you know what a testable hypothesis is, here are tips for proposing one.
- Try to write the hypothesis as an if-then statement. If you take an action, then a certain outcome is expected.
- Identify the independent and dependent variable in the hypothesis. The independent variable is what you are controlling or changing. You measure the effect this has on the dependent variable.
- Write the hypothesis in such a way that you can prove or disprove it. For example, a person has skin cancer, you can't prove they got it from being out in the sun. However, you can demonstrate a relationship between exposure to ultraviolet light and increased risk of skin cancer.
- Make sure you are proposing a hypothesis you can test with reproducible results. If your face breaks out, you can't prove the breakout was caused by the french fries you had for dinner last night. However, you can measure whether or not eating french fries is associated with breaking out. It's a matter of gathering enough data to be able to reproduce results and draw a conclusion.
- What Are Examples of a Hypothesis?
- What Is a Hypothesis? (Science)
- What Are the Elements of a Good Hypothesis?
- Scientific Method Flow Chart
- Null Hypothesis Examples
- Scientific Hypothesis Examples
- Understanding Simple vs Controlled Experiments
- Six Steps of the Scientific Method
- Scientific Method Vocabulary Terms
- What Is a Controlled Experiment?
- What Is an Experimental Constant?
- Scientific Variable
- What Is the Difference Between a Control Variable and Control Group?
- DRY MIX Experiment Variables Acronym
- Random Error vs. Systematic Error
- The Role of a Controlled Variable in an Experiment
Q. | |
A. | it is a tentative proposition |
B. | its validity is unknown |
C. | statements of factual information |
D. | it specifies the relationship between two or more variables |
Answer» C. statements of factual information |
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Related MCQs
- Which of the following is not a phases to test a hypothesis?
- Which is an incorrect statement regarding a good hypothesis?
- Which statement is true regarding hypothesis?
- “Hypothesis is a tentative statement about something, the validity of which is usually unknown”. Who defined?
- Which of the following is not a characteristics of qualitative research?
- “A hypothesis is a conjectural statement of the relationship between two or more variables”. Who defined?
- When the researcher construct a hypothesis stipulating that there is no difference between two situations, groups or the prevalence of a condition or a phenomena. It is called ……?
- Which of the following is not a criticism of qualitative research?
- Which of the following is not an element in “trustworthiness” criteria for assessing qualitative research?
- Which of the following is not a feature of ethnographic methods?
- Physics Concept Questions And Answers
Hypothesis Questions
In physics, a hypothesis is a probable explanation for a physical phenomenon. Researchers usually base scientific hypotheses on earlier experiments or observations that cannot evidently be described with the existing scientific theories. At times the words “theory” and hypothesis are used interchangeably. However, a scientific theory is not the same as a scientific hypothesis.
Important Hypothesis Questions with Answers
1) What is a hypothesis?
In science, a hypothesis is a structured assumption that is constructed based on some theoretical or experimental evidence. This is the first step during any research that transforms the investigation queries into predictions. It comprises components like population, variables and the relationship among the variables. Generally, a research hypothesis is a type of hypothesis that is employed to test the connection between multiple variables. For concrete evaluation, the developer of a hypothesis must be able to put forward specifics in functional terms. A hypothesis demands more work by the investigator for both confirming or disproving it. In this process, a confirmed hypothesis could become part of a probable theory or develop into a theory itself. Typically, a scientific hypothesis has the architecture of a mathematical model.
2) Give the fundamental types of hypotheses.
There are mainly six types of hypotheses:
- Simple hypothesis
- Complex hypothesis
- Directional hypothesis
- Non-directional hypothesis
- Null hypothesis
- Associative and causal hypothesis
3) What is meant by a directional hypothesis?
A directional hypothesis is a construct assumption derived by a researcher regarding a negative or positive change, difference, or relationship between two variables among a population. Typically, this prediction is based on previous research, extensive experience or accepted theory. The connection between the variables can also forecast its characteristics. For example, a middle-aged man exercising daily over time has a much lower chance of cardiac arrest than a man who does not follow any exercise routine.
4) What is meant by a non-directional hypothesis?
It is developed when there is no existing theory involved. In most cases, it is a statement that a connection lies between two variables without assuming the exact characteristics (direction) of the inherent connection.
5) What is a theory?
A theory is a scientific method that tries to explain the natural phenomena of the Universe by applying a consistent, systematic, logical way of investigation, data extraction, data scrutiny, experimenting, and refinement to reach a well-tested, thorough explanation that is concretely supported by proofs and evidence.
6) What are the main steps to developing a scientific theory?
Below is a generalised sequence of steps taken to develop a scientific theory:
- Choose and define the natural phenomenon that you need to figure out and describe. Gather data about this phenomenon by examining the source of the phenomena and analysing observations. We can also replicate this phenomenon by an experiment or simulation under a controlled environment (typically inside a laboratory) that removes interference from outside variables.
- After extracting sufficient data, analyse for repeating patterns in the data. Try to describe these recurring patterns by constructing a provisional explanation (hypothesis).
- Test the hypothesis by deriving more information to examine if the hypothesis stays true to exhibit the probable pattern. If the available data does not support the hypothesis, it must be altered or removed for a better one. During the collection of data, we must not ignore information that conflicts with the hypothesis in favour of only supportive information (known as “cherry-picking”). This is frequently misused by pseudo-scientists trying to scam people who are not familiar with scientific methodologies.
- If a concrete hypothesis stands true after all the scrutiny and is the most sound explanation for the phenomenon, then it is considered a valid theory. An established theory may undergo modifications and rejection if there exist enough pieces of evidence that contradict it. Thus, a theory is not a perpetual or absolute truth.
6) What are the main outcomes of a valid hypothesis?
Any valid hypothesis will allow us to make predictions by simple or deductive reasoning. In some scenarios, it could predict the result of a test in a laboratory or the probable observation of a natural process in the Universe. The prediction may give rise to statistics that further point to other extended probabilities or patterns. The scientific method comprises experimentation to validate the hypothesis to sufficiently explain the reasons under thorough investigation.
7) What are the main criteria for formulating a legitimate hypothesis?
During the development of a hypothesis, the researcher must not currently have an absolute prejudice over the probable result of the test or experiment. It should stay reasonably under the scope of the investigation. Then only the experiment or examination increases the probability of deriving a valid, true side of the hypothesis. If the investigator already knows the result, it is only considered a “consequence” (the investigator should have already taken this during the construction of the hypothesis). If the researcher cannot examine the predictions by experience or observation, the hypothesis must be tested by other qualified investigators providing observations.
Investigators examining alternative hypotheses may consider the following:
- Testability
- Parsimony – discouraging the postulation of unrestricted numbers of entities.
- Scope – the apparent application of the hypothesis to many scenarios of the phenomena.
- Fruitfulness – the potential that a hypothesis may help further explain phenomena in the future
- Conservatism – the compatibility with existing recognised knowledge systems.
8) What is a working hypothesis?
A working hypothesis is a type of hypothesis that is scientifically accepted as a foundation for further study in the hope that a plausible theory will be derived, even if the hypothesis eventually fails. Just like most hypotheses, a working hypothesis is created as a statement of assumptions, which can be connected to the exploratory investigation purpose in empirical analysis. They are often employed as an abstract foundation in qualitative research.
Practice Questions
1) What is a postulate? 2) What is the difference between a hypothesis and a theory? 3) What is a pseudo-hypothesis? 4) Define a scientific theory.
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Which of the following is not a characteristic of a good hypothesis?
(A) Must be consistent with all available data (B) Must be testable (C) Must be correct (D) Must make predictions
Answer: (C) Must be correct
IMAGES
COMMENTS
Multiple-choice questions (MCQ) regarding the characteristics of a hypothesis often assess knowledge on the testability and falsifiability of hypotheses. They may ask about the criteria that distinguish a good hypothesis from a poor one or the importance of making specific predictions.
Hypothesis Question 15 Detailed Solution. Download Solution PDF. The correct answer is n - 1. Important Points. In the context of hypothesis testing using a paired t-test, the degrees of freedom is calculated as the number of pairs (n) minus 1.
Principle 3. A simple hypothesis should be as specific as possible yet expressed in a single sentence. Principle 4. If a comparison is to be made, the elements to be compared should be stated. x Younger children are more dependent on adults for psychological support. + Compared with older children, younger children are more dependent on adults ...
what are the characteristics of a good hypothesis? 1. must be testable. 2. must be falsifiable. 3. must be parsimonious. 4. must be fruitful. 5. must be synthetic.
Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Which of the following is not a characteristic of a good hypothesis?, Dr. Mattar is interested in knowing more about brain injury to the occipital cortex, and he studies patients individually in order to gain in-depth knowledge about their behaviors. These studies would best be described as ________., In order to assess whether ...
Based on these sources, hypotheses are of various types: i) Directional and nondirectional, and ii) Research and null hypothesis; A good hypothesis has several basic characteristics: It must be testable. It must declare the expected relationship between the variables. It must suggest a tentative solution to the problem under study.
The other three characteristics, newness, feasibility, and social significance, are all important considerations when formulating a research problem. Newness: A good research problem often pertains to a new or novel area of investigation. It should contribute to the existing knowledge and fill gaps in the literature.
Developing a hypothesis (with example) Step 1. Ask a question. Writing a hypothesis begins with a research question that you want to answer. The question should be focused, specific, and researchable within the constraints of your project. Example: Research question.
This set of Probability and Statistics Multiple Choice Questions & Answers (MCQs) focuses on "Testing of Hypothesis". 1. A statement made about a population for testing purpose is called? a) Statistic. b) Hypothesis. c) Level of Significance. d) Test-Statistic. View Answer. 2.
Following are the characteristics of the hypothesis: The hypothesis should be clear and precise to consider it to be reliable. If the hypothesis is a relational hypothesis, then it should be stating the relationship between variables. The hypothesis must be specific and should have scope for conducting more tests.
Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Which of the following is NOT characteristic of a good research hypothesis? A) It is a declarative statement. B) It identifies at least two variables. C) It states a predicted relationship. D) It is in the form of a question., Generating Research Hypotheses, research hypotheses and more.
A hypothesis is a tentative statement about the relationship between two or more variables. It is a specific, testable prediction about what you expect to happen in a study. It is a preliminary answer to your question that helps guide the research process. Consider a study designed to examine the relationship between sleep deprivation and test ...
"A hypothesis would be simple if a researcher has more insight towards the problem," P.V. Young states. W-ocean said, "A theory should be as sharp as a razor's blade". As a result, a good hypothesis must be straightforward and devoid of complication. Clarity A hypothesis must have a coherent conceptual foundation.
At the primary level, a hypothesis is the possible and probable explanation of the sequence of happenings or data. Sometimes, hypothesis may emerge from an imagination, common sense or a sudden event. Hypothesis can be a probable answer to the research problem undertaken for study. 4. Hypothesis may not always be true.
A good hypothesis should make a positive statement about the existence of something,usually the existence of a relationship,the existence of a difference,or the existence of a treatment effect. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Testable hypothesis, Refutable hypothesis, Positive hypothesis and more.
Updated on January 12, 2019. A hypothesis is a tentative answer to a scientific question. A testable hypothesis is a hypothesis that can be proved or disproved as a result of testing, data collection, or experience. Only testable hypotheses can be used to conceive and perform an experiment using the scientific method .
A good hypothesis ensures that the sample is readily approachable. Hypothesis should state relationship between variables, if it happens to be a relational hypothesis. 10. A good hypothesis indicates clearly the role of different variables involved in the study. 11. A good hypothesis maintains a very apparent distinction with what is called ...
More Hypothesis Questions. Q1. Population variance differ from sample variance in which of the following manner: A. μ ± 3σ is replaced by x̅ + 9σ2 B. μ is replaced by x̅ C. μ2 is replaced by α μ 2 ( n − 1) α D. N is replaced by n - 1 E. N is replaced by n - 1 - α Choose the correct answer from the options given below: Q2.
A. it is a tentative proposition. B. its validity is unknown. C. statements of factual information. D. it specifies the relationship between two or more variables. Answer» C. statements of factual information.
Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Which of the following are the criteria for a good hypothesis? Multiple select question. It is testable and falsifiable. It is able to be proved in only one experiment. It is consistent with what is already known. It is always true., What are the benefits of a large sample size? Select all that apply. Multiple select question. It ...
A hypothesis demands more work by the investigator for both confirming or disproving it. In this process, a confirmed hypothesis could become part of a probable theory or develop into a theory itself. Typically, a scientific hypothesis has the architecture of a mathematical model. 2) Give the fundamental types of hypotheses.
Which of the following is not a characteristic of a good hypothesis? (A) Must be consistent with all available data. (B) Must be testable. (C) Must be correct. (D) Must make predictions. Answer: (C) Must be correct.
Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like 1) If a study is "reliable", this means that: a. the methods are outlined in the methods discussion clearly enough for the research to be replicated. b. the measures devised for concepts are stable on different occasions. c. the findings can be generalized to other social phenomena d. it was conducted by a reputable researcher ...