hypothesis-framing

Overview

Based on Research Design (Creswell & Creswell) and Research Methodology: A Step-by-Step Guide (Ranjit Kumar). A hypothesis is a falsifiable prediction about the relationship between variables. Kumar's rule: a hypothesis that cannot be proven wrong is not a hypothesis - it is a belief. Creswell's standard: every hypothesis must specify the population, the variables, and the predicted direction of the relationship.

The test: can a different researcher, given only the hypothesis, design a study to test it?

Workflow

Step 1: Identify the research question

Start with the question before writing the hypothesis. The hypothesis is the answer you predict the study will find.

Research question: [what are you trying to find out?]
Domain: [field of study]
Context: [setting, population, conditions]
Prior evidence: [what makes this prediction plausible? what is it based on?]