This fundamental statement/formula should be recognizable to everyone because it is the beginning point for practically every scientific research or paper. It’s a hypothesis, which is a statement that describes what you “believe” will happen in an experiment. This assumption is based on your existing knowledge, facts, and data.

What is the best way to write a hypothesis? It should not be difficult to construct a hypothesis if you have a clear understanding of its right structure. However, if this is your first time writing a hypothesis, you may find it difficult. In this post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about hypotheses, including their different varieties and writing guidelines.
Definition of a Hypothesis

A hypothesis, according to the definition, is an assumption based on prior information. To clarify, it is a statement that transforms the original research question into a reasonable prediction based on the facts and data provided. To solve a problem, one must first define the research topic (research question), undertake preliminary research, and then set out to answer the question by conducting experiments and observing the results. However, before moving on to the experimental section of the study, one must first determine what outcomes they hope to see. A scientist makes an informed assumption at this point and creates a hypothesis that he or she will confirm or refute over the course of their research.
A hypothesis can also be viewed as a sort of knowledge development. It’s a well-founded assumption made to shed light on the properties and causes of the phenomenon under investigation.

A hypothesis is usually established based on a series of observations and instances that support it. This manner, it appears believable because it is backed up by some known facts. The hypothesis is then either proven (for example, by pointing out a counterexample) or rejected (for example, by pointing out a counterexample), allowing it to be classified as a false assertion.

You may be required to write a hypothesis statement as part of your academic papers as a student. Hypothesis-based approaches are widespread in scientific academic works such as research papers, theses, and dissertations, among others.

It’s worth noting that in other fields, a hypothesis statement is referred to as a thesis statement. However, the statement’s substance and purpose remain the same: it seeks to make an assumption about the investigation’s findings that will either be proven or refuted.
Hypothesis Characteristics and Sources

Let’s look at the major criteria that constitute a hypothesis now that you know what it is in a nutshell:

To appear trustworthy, it must be clear and accurate.
It must be precise.
There should be room for more research and experimentation.
A hypothesis should be explained in layman’s terms while maintaining its importance.
Variables and the relationship between them are two crucial things to include when creating a relational hypothesis.

The following are the main origins of a hypothesis:

Theories based on science.
Previous research findings and current experiences.
The similarity between many phenomena.
Patterns that influence people’s thought processes in general.

Hypotheses of Various Types

Alternative and null hypotheses are the two most common categories of scientific hypothesis.

Hypothetical Alternative

H1 is a common abbreviation for this type of hypothesis. This statement is used to identify the research’s expected outcome. This type of hypothesis can be further separated into two subgroups, according to the alternative hypothesis definition:

Directional – a remark that explains the projected consequences’ direction. This type of hypothesis is sometimes used to investigate the relationship between variables rather than comparing groups.
A non-directional alternative hypothesis, unlike a directional alternative hypothesis, does not specify a specific direction of expected consequences.

Let’s look at an alternative hypothesis for each type:

Directional: Students’ test scores will improve if they attend more lectures.
Non-directional: Students’ test scores will be influenced by their attendance at lectures.

Notice how in the directional hypothesis, we stated that attending more lectures will improve students’ test scores, whereas in the non-directional hypothesis, we only stated that there is a relationship between the two variables (i.e. lecture attendance and students’ test scores), but not whether performance will improve or decrease.

Hypothesis of Nullity

H0 is a common abbreviation for this type of hypothesis. This statement expresses the polar opposite of what you expect or predict will occur throughout the course of your research—in other words, it expresses the polar opposite of your alternative hypothesis. Simply expressed, a null hypothesis asserts that the variables defined in the hypothesis have no exact or actual correlation.

Here’s an example of a null hypothesis to give you a better understanding of how to create one:
Students’ test scores are unaffected by their attendance during lectures.

Both of these hypotheses provide particular refinements and repetition of the study question. The primary distinction between these hypotheses and research problems is that the latter is just a query that cannot be tested, whereas hypotheses can.

Based on the previous instances of alternative and null hypotheses, we can conclude that the relevance and main goal of these hypotheses is to provide a rough description of the subject matter. The major goal of these statements is to provide a particular guess to an investigator that may be directly tested in a research. Simply expressed, a hypothesis establishes the study’s framework, scope, and direction. Although null and alternative hypotheses are the most common, there are others to consider:

A statement used to examine the correlation between two or more variables is referred to as a research hypothesis.

Consumption of vitamin-rich foods, for example, has an impact on human health.

A simple hypothesis is a statement that expresses the relationship between two independent variables.

For instance, eating more vegetables boosts immunity.

A complex hypothesis is a statement that expresses the relationship between two or more independent and dependent variables.

For instance, eating more fruits and vegetables improves immunity, weight loss, and disease risk.

Associative and Causal Hypothesis — An associative hypothesis is a statement that expresses the relationship between variables in the case that one variable modifies inexorably the other. A causal hypothesis is a statement that emphasizes the relationship between variables’ causes and effects.
Prediction vs. Hypothesis

Another term that comes to mind when discussing hypotheses is prediction. These two terms are frequently interchanged, which can be perplexing. Although both a hypothesis and a forecast can be loosely defined as “guesses” and are easily confused, they are not the same thing. The fundamental distinction between a hypothesis and a prediction is that the former is more commonly employed in science, whereas the latter is more commonly used in non-scientific contexts.

Simply said, a hypothesis is an educated guess. It’s a conjecture about the nature of an unknown (or lesser-known) phenomenon based on prior knowledge, studies, and/or a series of experiments, and it’s backed up by data. The basic goal of a hypothesis is to build a logical relationship between variables using available evidence in order to provide a more precise scientific explanation. Hypotheses are also claims that can be tested through additional studies. It’s a presumption you make about your research study’s flow and outcome(s).

A prediction, on the other hand, is a guess that is frequently unfounded. Although a prediction can be scientific in theory, it is almost always fictional—that is, a guess based on current knowledge and/or facts. Predictions are usually associated with foreseeing events that may or may not occur in the future. A person who makes predictions frequently has little or no actual knowledge of the subject matter about which he or she is making an assumption.

Another significant distinction between these concepts is the approach employed to prove them. It is possible to prove a prediction only once. Only the occurrence or non-occurrence of the projected event may indicate if it is correct or incorrect. A hypothesis, on the other hand, allows for additional testing and experimentation. Furthermore, a hypothesis can be proved in several steps. This means that a single theory can be proved or denied multiple times by different scientists using various scientific tools and procedures.

My hypothesis is that if I eat more vegetables and fruits, I will lose weight more quickly.

This is a hypothesis since it is based on commonly held beliefs (for example, fruits and vegetables have fewer calories than other foods) and previous experiences (i.e. people who give preference to healthier foods like fruits and vegetables are losing weight easier). Although it is still a conjecture, it is founded on facts and can be tested by an experiment.

The world will end in 2023, according to predictions.

Because it foreshadows future events, this is a forecast. This assumption, however, is fictitious because it lacks any fact-based data to back it up.

We can emphasize the following significant takeaways based on everything that has been mentioned so far and our examples:

Unlike a prediction, a hypothesis is a more intelligent assumption based on facts.
Existing variables are defined by hypotheses, which examine the relationship(s) between them.
Predictions are frequently fictitious and unfounded.
The most common application of a forecast is to foresee future events.
When the expected event occurs or does not occur, a prediction can only be proven once.
Even if one scientist has already verified or disproven a hypothesis, it can still be called a hypothesis. Other scientists could produce a different outcome using different methodologies and instruments in the future.

What Is a Hypothesis and How Do I Write One?

Now that you understand what a hypothesis is, what types of hypotheses exist, and how a hypothesis varies from a prediction, you’re probably wondering how to formulate a hypothesis. We’ll walk you through the main stages of formulating a sound hypothesis in this part, as well as provide helpful hints and examples to help you overcome this challenge:
1. Formulate a Research Question

One thing to remember is that the process should always begin with the correct research topic, regardless of the paper or project you’re working on. A good research question is one that is particular, clear, targeted (not too wide), and manageable.

How does eating fruits and vegetables affect human health, for example?

2. Carry out your preliminary research

A hypothesis, as you may know, is an educated prediction about the predicted results and outcomes of a study. As a result, gathering facts is critical before making this assumption.

Based on what has already been uncovered, you should be able to answer your research topic at this point. Look for evidence, previous studies, theories, and so forth. You should be able to make a logical and intelligent guess based on the facts you’ve gathered.
3. Construct a Hypothesis

Based on your preliminary study, you should have a good sense of what you’ll find when you continue your investigation. Make a clear and succinct hypothesis using this information.

You can rephrase your hypothesis in a variety of ways, depending on the type of project you’re working on and the type of hypothesis you want to use:

Non-directional: Consuming fruits and vegetables has an impact on one’s physical well-being.
Directional: Consuming fruits and vegetables is beneficial to one’s physical health.
Null: Eating fruits and vegetables has no impact on one’s physical well-being.

4. Revise and Improve Your Hypothesis

The final step in developing a decent hypothesis is to refine what you’ve got. This phase requires you to determine whether your hypothesis:

Has distinct and relevant variables; establishes a link between its variables;
Is precise and verifiable;
Suggests a hypothesis for the investigation or experiment’s outcome.