Methods in Social Research-Basic Elements of the Scientific Method: Hypotheses

Abstract

The formulation of the hypothesis is a central step in good research, and it is important to give it a great deal of thought. Because of this significance, we have looked at the hypothesis from several points of view. 1. We have shown why it is so crucial a step to take, and how it functions in a research. It is the question which we put to the empirical world, in such a form that an answer can be obtained. 2. We have also looked at some of the problems which occur when we attempt to formulate hypotheses. It is clear that the formulation of hypotheses does not occur automatically but is usually preceded by many false starts, evaluational propositions, vague statements, etc. 3. As an aid in understanding hypotheses, we noted that they may be developed at different levels of concreteness, from fairly common-sense statements to the relationships between complex, abstract variables. 4. Making hypotheses is a creative act, but we can study such acts. We saw that hypotheses come from many sources, from the general emphases of our culture to the most individual of experiences. 5. Finally, we sketched a few criteria for selecting the more useful hypotheses and offered a few suggestions for improving those hypotheses which seem to be weak. Such an outline at least offers the student a set of preliminary but useful notions for thinking fruitfully about research problems. Many studies fail at precisely this point, the development of a good hypothesis. On the other hand, the history of science gives innumerable examples to prove that great strides were made when someone asked the right question.