- What is a hypothesis?
- Characteristics of the hypotheses
- Types of hypotheses
- How do you make a hypothesis?
- Examples of hypotheses
- Difference between hypothesis and theory
We explain what a hypothesis is, its types, characteristics and examples. Also, how it is formulated and differences with a theory.
What is a hypothesis?
A hypothesis is a proposition or statement that is considered true from the start, although it has not yet been proven, and that therefore constitutes speculation or a working conjecture, lacking confirmation or refutation by means of the experience. The term comes from the Greek hypo, “Below”, and thesis, "Opinion" or "conclusion”.
Hypotheses can be raised with more or less grounding in reality, but they serve as a first step in the research, which will seek to prove or refute it. This, however, must be done through empirical evidence or through a argumentation sustained, depending on whether we are facing a quantitative or qualitative research.
In any case, a hypothesis is a provisional formulation, since when tested it becomes a verified or proven statement. The formulation of a hypothesis is also central in the scientific method, whose series of Steps allow testing, refining, and finally formulating a scientific interpretation to support understanding of the reality.
Characteristics of the hypotheses
All hypotheses must respond to the following characteristics:
- Every hypothesis consists of a relationship between an element A and an element B, whatever they may be, whose relationship is expressed in the form of a proposition.
- It always refers to an event or a probable relationship between things, since something clearly impossible cannot be tested.
- It has a number of specific variables, which must be clearly identified and defined. Furthermore, the relationship between these must be proposed by the hypothesis itself and must be clear, understandable and credible.
- They are usually associated with techniques established and known that serve to put them to the test.
- They are always falsifiable, that is, they can always be opposed arguments that they contradict it and thus put it to the test.
- They are totally provisional approaches, which will be proven or discarded through investigation.
Types of hypotheses
Hypotheses can be classified in many ways, including the following:
- Types of hypotheses according to their scope. Judging by the type of reality to which the hypothesis refers, we can speak of:
- Singular hypotheses. Those that refer to a specific and singular event.
- General hypotheses. Those that refer to events that are repeated within a system. In turn, they are classified into:
- Universal hypotheses. When they try to demonstrate content that applies to the entirety of the research.
- Probabilistic hypotheses. When formulated in terms of proportions, percentages or majorities.
- Types of hypotheses according to their origin. Depending on the logical procedure that allows formulating them, we will have the following types of hypotheses:
- Inductive hypotheses. Those obtained by induction, that is, in generalizations and assumptions from singular cases.
- Deductive hypotheses. Those obtained by deduction, that is, they are logically derived from other previous hypotheses that have already been tested or discarded.
- Analog hypotheses. Those obtained by analogy, that is, by the comparison or the transfer of the content of one hypothesis to other similar ones.
How do you make a hypothesis?
To formulate a hypothesis, as much information as possible must be gathered.
The steps to formulate a hypothesis, which generally constitutes the beginning of any investigation, are the following:
- Choose the trouble of interest. In which our hypothesis will be inserted. Either is just as valid.
- Gather information. For to venture to formulate a probable hypothesis we must know the matter as much as possible.
- Compare the information and provide explanations. That is, exploring the possible answers or solutions to the problem, based on the collected and contrasted data.
- Choose the most likely explanation. The one that is credible, probable and that the best Research Methods allow.
- Formulate the hypothesis. That is, to raise the possible explanation in scientific terms, excluding the others and building the experimental model that will serve to prove or disprove it. All hypotheses serve to initiate an investigation, without it they would be no more than conjecture.
Examples of hypotheses
Without intending to develop them in their entirety, the following hypotheses serve as an example of what has been said so far:
- Knowing the effect caused by certain metals heavy on the human body, it can be assumed that the presence of some of these effects in a community dedicated to mining, corresponds to the presence of said heavy metals in the air, Water or food of the community.
- Checking the characteristics of an emission of waves radio received from outer space With the natural emissions that we receive every day, it is possible to assume that this new emission comes from an extraterrestrial civilization.
- Having studied in depth the characteristics of the construction site of an important medieval painter, it is possible to demonstrate to some extent his influence on the work of other much later painters with whom he does not share nationality.
Difference between hypothesis and theory
At scientific knowledge numerous hypotheses are handled, some of which are proven and others, on the other hand, refuted. The latter are reformulated, refined or discarded, while the former are integrated into logical-deductive systems that attempt to explain in detail a phenomenon of the reality, and which are known as scientific theories.
In other words, a theory is made up of a set of proven hypotheses, so that these constitute a much smaller unit of meaning in the field of scientific research.