NULL HYPOTHESIS AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE

Introduction

                   When a researcher observes known facts and takes up a problem for analysis, he first has to start somewhere and this point of start is the hypothesis. 

In other words, one has to proceed to formulate tentative solutions as soon as the problem to be tackled is finalised.  These proposed solutions or explanations constitute the hypothesis which the researcher proceeds to test on the basis of facts already known.

Meaning of Hypothesis

                   Hypothesis means a mere assumption or some supposition or a possibility to be proved or disproved.  But, for a researcher hypothesis is a formal question to be resolved.

                   In fact, hypothesis is not a claim of truth but a claim for truth.

Definition of hypothesis

                   “A hypothesis is a tentative generalization, the validity of which remains to be tested.” – George A. Lundberg.

                   “A proposition which can be put to test to determine validity.” – Goode and Hatt

                   “A hypothesis is a statement capable of being tested and thereby verified or rejected.” – Rummel and Balline.

                   “A hypothesis is a shrewd guess or inference that is formulated and provisionally adopted to explain observed facts or conditions and to guide in further investigation.” – Goode and Scates.

Characteristic makes a good research hypothesis

i)                   Hypothesis should be clear and precise.  Otherwise, the inferences drawn cannot be taken as reliable.

ii)                It should be capable of being tested.

iii)              A relational hypothesis should state relationship between variables.

iv)              It should be specific and limited in scope.

v)                 It should be, as far as possible, in most simple terms so as to make it comprehensible to all.

vi)              It should be consistent with most known facts.

vii)            It should be amenable to testing within a reasonable time.

viii)         It must actually explain what it claims to explain and it should have empirical references.

When to make a hypothesis ?

                   Hypotheses are not given to us readymade.  This is so especially in social sciences where there has not yet evolved a highly developed theoretical system in many areas of its subject-matter, affording fruitful bases for hypothesis formulation.  As a result, in social sciences at least, a considerable portion of research endeavour is directed understandably towards making hypotheses rather than testing them.  Hence, it is to be remembered that research can begin with well formulated hypothesis (in the planning stage of the project) or it can come out with hypothesis as its end-product (at a later stage).

Need for Hypothesis

                   While a hypothesis is useful it is not always indispensable.  In physical sciences (including fundamental research) the hypothesis is most often necessary but in social sciences useful facts many be discovered, organized and presented purposefully even without a hypothesis other than the one which might incidentally be suggested in the course of the investigation.  Thus, it is desirable to have hypothesis/hypotheses.

Purpose and Importance of Hypotheses in a Scientific Research

Ø  Hypothesis provides guidance to the researcher to proceed the research on certain definite lines.

Ø  It is useful to prevent a blind search and indiscriminate gathering of data which may later prove irrelevant to the study.

Ø  It provides a tentative explanation of phenomena and facilitates the extension of knowledge in an area.

Ø  It provides the investigator with a relational statement that is directly testable in a research study.

Ø  It provides direction to the research.

Ø  It provides a framework for reporting conclusions of the study.

Ø  It could be considered as the working instrument of theory.  Hypotheses can be deduced from theory and from other hypotheses.

Ø  It could be tested and shown to be probably supported or not supported, apart from man’s own values and opinions.

Null Hypothesis

                   When a hypothesis is stated negatively, it is called a Null Hypothesis.  The object of this hypothesis is to avoid the personal bias of the investigator in the matter of collection of data.  A null hypothesis is used to collect additional support for the known hypothesis.

Significance of Null Hypothesis

·        The purpose and importance of the null hypothesis is provide or an investigator with description of the phenomena.

·        The purpose of the null hypothesis is to provide the researcher or an investigator with a relational statement that is directly tested in a research study.

·        The purpose of the null hypothesis is to provide the framework for reporting the inferences of the study.

·        The purpose of the null hypothesis is to behave as a working instrument of the theory.  The purpose of the null hypothesis is to prove whether or not the test is supported, which is separated from the investigator’s own values and decisions.

·        The null hypothesis is also provide direction to the research.   The null hypothesis is generally denoted as H0.  The null hypothesis states the exact opposite of what an investigator or an experimenter predicts or expects.   The null hypothesis basically defines the statement which states that there is no exact or actual relationship between the variables.

Conclusion

                   A research generally starts with a problem.  Next a hypotheses like null hypothesis and alternative hypothesis provide the researcher with some specific restatements and clarifications of the research problem.  Thus null hypothesis is stated negatively and it should always be specific and then the researcher wishes to disprove it.