Sources of Hypothesis

 Define Hypothesis. What is the procedure fortesting of Hypothesis.

 Meaning of Hypothesis :

Ordinarily, when one talks about hypothesis, one simply means a mere assumption or some supposition to be proved or disproved. But for a researcher hypothesis is a formal question that he intends to resolve. Thus a hypothesis may be defined as a proposition or a set of proposition set forth as an explanation for the observed phenomenon.

Definition of Hypothesis:

According to George A. Lundberg

"Ahypothesis is a tentative generalization, the validity of which remains to be tested. In its most elementary stage, the hypothesis may be a mere bunch, imaginative data which becomes the basis for action or investigation.

According to William E. Emory

"When propositions are formulated or empirically tested, they are called hypothesis. Propositions are combinations of concepts designated by statements that may be judged true or false, if they refer to observable phenomena.

Characteristics of Hypothesis:

(1) Clarity of Concepts : Concepts should not be abstract. If concepts are not clear, precise problem form ulation will be difficult leading to difficulty in data collection. Concepts are important because it means different to different people.

(2) Specific/ Clear : Hypothesis should be clear and precise. If hypothesis is not clear and precise, the inferences drawn on its basis cannot be taken as reliable.

(3) Ability to Test : Hypothesis should be capable of being tested.

(4) Hypothesis should state relationship between variables, if it happens to be a relational hypothesis.

(5) Limited in Scope : Hypothesis should be limited in scope and must be specific. A researcher must remember that narrower hypotheses are generally more testable and he should develop such hypotheses.

(6) Hypothesis should be stated as far as possible in most simple terms so that the same is easily understandable by all concerned.

(7) Consistent : Hypotheses should be consistent.

(8) Statistical Tools : Hypothesis should be such that it is possible to use statistical techniques. Such as

Ø Anova

Ø Chi-Square Test

Ø T-Test

Ø Other non parametric tests

(9) Logical : If there is two or more hypothesis derived from the same basic theory they should not contradict each other.

(10) Subjectivity : Researchers subjectivity or his biased judgement should be eliminated from the hypothesis.

Sources of Hypothesis : Hypothesis can be derived from many sources:

(1) Theory : Theory on the subject can act as a source of hypothesis. We start of from a general premise and then formulate hypothesis.

Example : Providing employment opportunity is an indicator of social responsibility of a government enterprise from the above several hypothesis can be deduced.

(i) Public enterprise has greater social concern than other enterprise

(ii) People's perception of government enterprise is social concern.

(iii) Govt. enterprise helps in improving the life of less privileged people.

(2) Observation : People's behavior is observed. In this method we use observed behavior to infer the attitudes. This is an indirect method of attitude measurement.

(3) Past Experience : Here researcher goes by past experience to formulate the hypothesis.

(4) Case Studies : Case studies published can be used as a source for hypothesis.

Normally this is done before the launch of a product to find customer taste and preferences.