Hypothesis

Hypothesis
Hypothesis is a proposition or condition tentatively accepted without belief, in order to draw out its logical consequence and to test its accord in the light of facts known or that may be ascertained in the course of a research study. A hypothesis is a proposition about the status of events or about relation between variables It is a tentative explanation for the research problem (objective) It is a possible outcome of the research, or an educated guess about the research outcome It has to be tested in the course of a research

The Role of Hypothesis in a Research Study

Guides the direction of the study Specifies what data are relevant and irrelevant for the purpose of research Provides the framework for data analyses and organizing the conclusions that result

Types of Hypotheses
1) Hypotheses based on Empirical Uniformities (based on one variable) Univariate and descriptive in nature, states that something is the case, that some group of individuals, objects, events or incidents has certain property or characteristic. e.g., Height of Malayali girls is 5.6 Temperature in the planes during summer is 33 C Wage for an unskilled worker is Rs. 3000 p.m.

Types of Hypotheses cntd

2) Hypotheses based on Association between Variables

Bivariate and explanatory in nature, states that something is associated with some other thing; that something is greater than some other thing; that some group of individuals, objects, events or incidents has more of a certain property as compared to some other group; that speaks of the frequency of occurrence of something as compared to some other thing. e.g.,There exists an association between performance of employees and rewards they get Female managers have better communication skills than male managers

Types of Hypotheses cntd

3) Hypotheses based on Cause and Effect Relationship Bivariate and deterministic in nature; states that something is causally related to some other thing; that something is a determinant of some other thing. e.g., There exists a relationship between HR policy of the company and turn over rate of employees Career development is a significant predictor of organizational commitment The more innovative the HR practices, higher will be the commitment

Usable Hypothesis
It should be empirically testable It should be conceptually clear It should be adequately specific It should be as far as possible related to a body of knowledge or a theoretical framework

Sources of Hypotheses
Personal experience Analogies Conclusions of earlier studies Existing body of knowledge Insightful understanding of the researcher

Stating Hypothesis
Stated in declarative form Posits generally a relationship between variables Ideally reflects the theoretical framework of the study based on a theory or body of literature It is brief and to the point

Stating Hypothesis
Example
Research Idea: Drug abuse and child abuse Objective: To ascertain the linkages between drug abuse of adults and abuse of children Hypothesis: There is a positive relationship between drug abuse among adults and their physical and psychological abuse of children in their contact

Stating Hypothesis
Example
Research Idea: Managers attitude and participation of workers Objective: To study the effect of managers attitude and the practice of workers participation in decision making Hypothesis: There is a positive association between managers attitude and the workers level of participation in decision making

Use of Variables in Hypothesis

Individual Performance

Empowerment Climate Strength of HRM systems Organizational Performance Psychological Empowerment H1

Strength of HRM systems H2

Empowerment Climate

Psych. Empowerment
H3a H4 Indl. Performance Orgl Performance H3b