writing hypothesis if then because

Hypothesis If Then

In the vast universe of scientific inquiries, the “if-then” hypothesis structure stands out as an essential tool, bridging observation and prediction. This format not only simplifies complex scientific theories but also provides clarity to young learners and budding scientists. Whether you’re experimenting in a professional lab or just in your backyard, understanding and crafting a Thesis statement succinct “if-then” hypothesis can be the key to unlocking the secrets of the world around us. Dive in to explore, write, and refine!

What is If Then Hypothesis?

The “If-Then” hypothesis is a predictive statement that sets up a cause-and-effect relationship between two variables. It’s structured such that the “If” portion introduces a condition or a cause, and the “Then” portion predicts the effect or outcome of that condition. This format helps in clearly establishing a link between the independent and dependent variables in an experiment.

What is an example of a Hypothesis If Then Statement?

For instance, let’s consider a basic experiment related to plant growth:

• Hypothesis : If a plant is exposed to direct sunlight for at least 6 hours a day, then it will grow taller than a plant that is kept in the shade.

In this example, the exposure to sunlight (or the lack thereof) is the condition, while the growth of the plant is the predicted outcome. The statement concisely links the cause (sunlight exposure) to the effect (plant growth).

100 If Then Hypothesis Statement Examples

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The “If-Then” hypothesis elegantly captures a cause-and-effect relationship in scientific inquiries. This predictive format, with its concise clarity, bridges observation and anticipated outcome, guiding experiments in a myriad of domains.

• Plant Growth : If a plant receives fertilizer, then it will grow faster than one without fertilizer.
• Melting Points : If ice is exposed to temperatures above 0°C, then it will melt.
• Battery Life : If a battery is used continuously, then it will drain faster than if used intermittently.
• Sleep & Performance : If a person sleeps less than 6 hours a night, then their cognitive performance will decrease.
• Diet & Weight : If an individual consumes more calories than they burn, then they will gain weight.
• Hydration : If a person drinks less than 8 glasses of water daily, then they may experience dehydration.
• Light & Vision : If a room is darkened, then the pupils of one’s eyes will dilate.
• Sugar & Energy : If children consume sugary drinks, then they will show increased levels of energy.
• Study Habits : If a student revises regularly, then they will retain more information than those who cram.
• Exercise & Health : If a person exercises three times a week, then their cardiovascular health will improve.
• Noise & Concentration : If a room is noisy, then people inside will find it harder to concentrate.
• Medication & Pain : If an individual takes painkillers, then they will report reduced pain levels.
• Soil Quality : If soil is rich in nutrients, then plants grown in it will be healthier.
• Reading & Vocabulary : If a child reads daily, then their vocabulary will expand faster than a non-reading peer.
• Social Media : If a teenager spends over 5 hours on social media, then they may experience decreased sleep quality.
• Sunscreen : If sunscreen is applied, then the chances of getting sunburned decrease.
• Coffee & Alertness : If an individual drinks coffee in the morning, then they will feel more alert.
• Music & Productivity : If calming music is played in the workplace, then employees will be more productive.
• Temperature & Metabolism : If the ambient temperature is cold, then a person’s metabolism will increase.
• Pets & Stress : If an individual owns a pet, then their stress levels might decrease.
• Vegetation & Air Quality : If trees are planted in an urban area, then air quality will improve.
• Vaccination : If a child is vaccinated, then they will have a reduced risk of contracting certain diseases.
• E-learning : If students use e-learning platforms, then they will have flexible study hours.
• Recycling : If a community adopts recycling, then landfill waste will decrease.
• Fast Food : If an individual eats fast food regularly, then their cholesterol levels might rise.
• UV Light : If UV light is shone on a glow-in-the-dark material, then it will glow more brightly.
• Brushing Teeth : If a child brushes their teeth twice daily, then they will have fewer cavities than those who don’t.
• Bird Migration : If the climate becomes colder, then certain birds will migrate to warmer regions.
• Space Exploration : If astronauts go without gravity for long periods, then their bone density will decrease.
• Plastic Pollution : If we reduce single-use plastic consumption, then the amount of plastic in the ocean will decrease.
• Books & Imagination : If a child reads fantasy novels, then their imaginative skills will be enhanced.
• AI & Efficiency : If companies use artificial intelligence in operations, then their efficiency will improve.
• Video Games : If children play violent video games, then they might exhibit aggressive behavior.
• Healthy Diet : If someone consumes a balanced diet, then their overall health will benefit.
• Deforestation : If forests are cleared at the current rate, then global temperatures will rise due to reduced carbon sequestration.
• Renewable Energy : If a country invests in renewable energy, then its carbon footprint will decrease.
• Exercise & Mood : If an individual engages in regular physical activity, then their mood will generally improve.
• Microplastics : If microplastics enter the water system, then marine life will be at risk.
• Language Learning : If a person practices a new language daily, then they will become fluent faster.
• Organic Farming : If farmers use organic methods, then the pesticide residue in the food will decrease.
• Remote Work : If employees work remotely, then office costs will reduce.
• Yoga & Flexibility : If someone practices yoga regularly, then their flexibility will increase.
• Public Transport : If a city improves its public transportation system, then traffic congestion will decrease.
• Meditation & Stress : If an individual meditates daily, then their stress levels will be lower.
• Fish & Omega-3 : If someone includes fish in their diet weekly, then their omega-3 fatty acid intake will be adequate.
• Smartphones & Sleep : If a person uses their smartphone before bed, then their sleep quality might decrease.
• Waste Segregation : If households segregate waste, then recycling processes will be more efficient.
• E-Books : If students use e-books instead of paper ones, then paper consumption will decrease.
• Carpooling : If more people adopt carpooling, then urban air quality will improve due to fewer car emissions.
• Digital Payments : If digital payment systems are adopted widely, then cash handling costs will reduce.
• Online Learning : If students engage in online learning platforms, then their access to diverse educational resources will increase.
• Tree Planting : If a community plants more trees in urban areas, then the air quality will improve due to increased oxygen output.
• Pet Ownership : If an individual adopts a pet, then they may experience reduced feelings of loneliness.
• Recycling : If recycling is made mandatory in cities, then landfill waste will decrease significantly.
• Natural Cleaners : If households use natural cleaning agents, then water pollution from residential areas will decrease.
• Solar Panels : If a house installs solar panels, then its electricity bill will decrease.
• Music & Productivity : If workers listen to instrumental music while working, then their productivity might increase.
• Healthy Breakfast : If someone eats a nutritious breakfast daily, then their energy levels throughout the day will be higher.
• Water Conservation : If individuals reduce their shower time by 5 minutes, then significant water conservation can be achieved annually.
• Learning Instruments : If a child learns a musical instrument, then their cognitive and motor skills may improve.
• Reusable Bags : If shoppers use reusable bags, then the demand for plastic bags will reduce.
• Public Libraries : If a city invests in public libraries, then the literacy rate of its citizens may rise.
• Organ Donation : If awareness about organ donation increases, then the waiting list for organ transplants will decrease.
• Green Spaces : If urban areas increase green spaces, then residents’ mental well-being may improve.
• Sleep & Memory : If a student gets at least 8 hours of sleep, then their memory retention might be better.
• Digital Detox : If someone takes a weekly digital detox day, then their stress levels may decrease.
• Composting : If households start composting kitchen waste, then the amount of organic waste in landfills will reduce.
• Gardening & Health : If individuals engage in gardening activities, then they might experience improved mental health.
• Flu Vaccination : If a person gets a flu shot annually, then their chances of getting influenza will reduce.
• Hand Washing : If people wash their hands regularly, then the spread of common diseases may decrease.
• Diverse Diet : If someone consumes a diverse range of vegetables, then they will have a better nutrient intake.
• Physical Books : If a student reads from physical books instead of screens, then they might have better sleep patterns.
• Mindfulness & Anxiety : If an individual practices mindfulness exercises, then their anxiety levels may decrease.
• Green Vehicles : If a city promotes the use of electric vehicles, then air pollution levels will reduce.
• Walking & Health : If someone walks 10,000 steps daily, then their cardiovascular health might improve.
• Art & Creativity : If children are exposed to art classes from a young age, then their creative thinking skills may enhance.
• Dark Chocolate : If someone consumes dark chocolate regularly, then their antioxidant intake may increase.
• Yoga & Flexibility : If an individual practices yoga thrice a week, then their flexibility and posture may improve.
• Cooking at Home : If families cook meals at home more frequently, then their intake of processed foods might decrease.
• Local Tourism : If local tourism is promoted, then a region’s economy can benefit due to increased business opportunities.
• Reading Aloud : If parents read aloud to their children every night, then the children’s vocabulary and comprehension skills might expand.
• Public Transportation : If cities improve their public transportation system, then the number of cars on the road might decrease.
• Indoor Plants : If a person keeps indoor plants in their workspace, then their concentration and productivity may enhance due to better air quality.
• Bird Watching : If an individual engages in bird watching, then their patience and observation skills might develop.
• Biking to Work : If employees bike to work, then their cardiovascular health can improve and their carbon footprint might reduce.
• Aquariums & Stress : If someone spends time watching fish in an aquarium, then their stress levels may decrease.
• Meditation & Focus : If an individual meditates daily, then their attention span and focus might increase.
• Learning Languages : If a student learns a new language, then their cognitive flexibility and memory retention may improve.
• Community Gardens : If neighborhoods establish community gardens, then residents may benefit from fresh produce and community bonding.
• Journaling : If someone journals their thoughts regularly, then their self-awareness and emotional processing might improve.
• Volunteering : If an individual volunteers once a month, then their sense of purpose and community connection may strengthen.
• Eco-friendly Products : If consumers prefer eco-friendly products, then industries might adopt more sustainable manufacturing practices.
• Limiting Screen Time : If children limit their screen time to an hour a day, then their physical activity levels and sleep patterns may benefit.
• Outdoor Play : If kids play outdoors regularly, then their motor skills and social interactions might develop better.
• Therapy & Mental Health : If someone attends therapy sessions, then they may experience improved mental well-being and coping strategies.
• Natural Light : If workspaces are designed to allow more natural light, then employee morale and productivity might rise.
• Water Intake : If a person drinks at least 8 glasses of water daily, then their hydration levels and skin health may improve.
• Classical Music : If students listen to classical music while studying, then their concentration might increase.
• Home Composting : If households adopt composting, then garden soil quality might improve and organic waste in landfills may reduce.
• Green Roofs : If buildings adopt green roofs, then urban heat islands might decrease, and biodiversity may benefit.

Hypothesis If Then Statement Examples in Research

The crux of experimental research revolves around predicting an outcome. An ‘If-Then’ hypothesis format succinctly conveys anticipated cause-and-effect relationships, enabling clearer comprehension and assessment.

• DNA Sequencing : If we utilize CRISPR technology for DNA sequencing, then the accuracy of detecting genetic mutations may increase.
• Drug Efficiency : If a new drug compound is introduced to malignant cells in vitro, then the proliferation rate of these cells might decrease.
• Digital Learning : If students are exposed to AI-driven educational tools, then their academic performance might significantly improve.
• Nano-technology : If nanoparticles are used in drug delivery, then the targeting of specific cells may become more efficient.
• Quantum Computing : If quantum bits replace traditional bits in computing, then the processing speed might witness a revolutionary acceleration.

Hypothesis If Then Statement Examples about Climate Change

Understanding climate change necessitates predicting outcomes based on varied actions or occurrences. These hypotheses present potential scenarios in the vast realm of climate studies.

• Deforestation : If deforestation rates continue at the current pace, then global carbon dioxide levels will rise significantly.
• Solar Energy : If solar energy adoption increases by 50% in the next decade, then global reliance on fossil fuels might decrease considerably.
• Ocean Temperatures : If the world’s oceans warm by another degree Celsius, then coral bleaching events may become twice as frequent.
• Carbon Taxation : If a global carbon tax is implemented, then emissions from industries might see a drastic reduction.
• Melting Ice Caps : If polar ice caps continue to melt at the current rate, then sea levels might rise to submerge several coastal cities by 2100.

Hypothesis If Then Statement Examples in Psychology

Psychology delves into understanding behaviors and mental processes. Formulating hypotheses in an ‘If-Then’ structure can streamline experimental setups and interpretations.

• Mindfulness Meditation : If individuals practice daily mindfulness meditation, then symptoms of anxiety and stress may decrease.
• Social Media : If teenagers spend over five hours daily on social media, then their self-esteem levels might drop.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy : If patients with depression undergo cognitive-behavioral therapy, then their coping mechanisms may strengthen.
• Sleep and Memory : If adults get less than six hours of sleep nightly, then their memory retention might deteriorate faster.
• Nature Exposure : If urban residents are exposed to natural settings weekly, then their mental well-being might improve.

Alternative If Then Hypothesis Statement Examples

Sometimes, researchers propose alternate scenarios to challenge or complement existing beliefs. These hypotheses capture such alternative insights.

• Vitamin Intake : If individuals consume Vitamin C supplements daily, then their immunity might not necessarily strengthen, contradicting popular belief.
• Digital Detox : If tech professionals take a monthly digital detox day, then their productivity may not diminish, countering the notion that constant connectivity boosts efficiency.
• Organic Foods : If consumers solely eat organic foods, then their overall health markers might remain unchanged, challenging the health superiority of organic diets.
• Exercise Routines : If gym-goers switch to calisthenics from weight training, then muscle mass gain might remain consistent, offering an alternative to traditional gym workouts.
• E-learning : If students transition from classroom learning to e-learning platforms, then their academic performance may not necessarily drop, challenging the indispensability of physical classrooms.

Hypothesis If Then Statement Examples in Biology

In biology, the interaction of living organisms and their environments often leads to distinct outcomes. The ‘If-Then’ hypothesis structure can efficiently predict these outcomes based on varying factors.

• Cell Division : If a cell is exposed to radiation, then the rate of its division might decrease significantly.
• Plant Growth : If plants are provided with blue light, then their growth rate might be faster compared to those exposed to red light.
• Enzyme Activity : If the temperature of a reaction involving enzymes rises by 10°C, then the activity of the enzymes might double.
• Animal Behavior : If nocturnal animals are exposed to continuous artificial light, then their feeding and reproductive behaviors might be disrupted.
• Genetic Modification : If crops are genetically modified for drought resistance, then their yield in arid regions might increase substantially.

Hypothesis If Then Statement Examples in Chemistry

The realm of chemistry is filled with reactions and interactions. Predicting outcomes based on specific conditions is crucial, and the ‘If-Then’ hypothesis structure provides clarity in such predictions.

• Acid-Base Reactions : If a solution has a pH below 7, then it might turn blue litmus paper red, indicating its acidic nature.
• Temperature and Reaction Rate : If the temperature of a chemical reaction is increased, then the rate of that reaction might speed up.
• Metal Reactivity : If zinc metal is placed in copper sulfate solution, then it might displace the copper, indicating its higher reactivity.
• Organic Synthesis : If an alkene is treated with bromine water, then the solution might decolorize, suggesting the presence of a double bond.
• Electrolysis : If an aqueous solution of sodium chloride undergoes electrolysis, then chlorine gas might be released at the anode.

Hypothesis If Then Statement Examples in Physics

Physics examines the fundamental principles governing our universe. ‘If-Then’ hypotheses help in determining cause-and-effect relationships amidst complex physical phenomena.

• Gravity : If an object is dropped from a certain height in a vacuum, then it might accelerate at 9.81 m/s^2, irrespective of its mass.
• Refraction : If light travels from air into water, then it might bend towards the normal due to the change in speed.
• Magnetism : If a magnetic field is applied to a moving charged particle, then the particle might experience a force perpendicular to its direction of motion.
• Thermal Expansion : If a metal rod is heated, then it might expand due to the increased kinetic energy of its atoms.
• Quantum Mechanics : If an electron is observed in a quantum system, then its wave function might collapse, determining its position.

What is an if-then because hypothesis?

An “if-then-because” hypothesis is a structured statement that predicts the outcome of an experiment based on a proposed cause and effect scenario. The structure usually goes as follows: “If [I do this specific action], then [this particular result will occur] because [of this scientific reason].”

For example: “If I water plants with sugar water, then they will grow taller than the ones watered with plain water because sugar provides additional nutrients to the plants.”

This type of simple hypothesis statement not only predicts the outcome but also provides a reasoning for the expected outcome, thereby setting the groundwork for the experimental procedure and its subsequent analysis.

Is a hypothesis typically an if-then statement?

Yes, a hypothesis is often framed as an “if-then” statement, especially in experimental studies. This format succinctly presents a proposed cause and its expected effect. By specifying a relationship between two variables, it offers clarity to the hypothesis and makes the intended testing straightforward. However, while common, not all hypotheses are written in the “if-then” format.

Is an if-then statement a hypothesis or prediction?

An “if-then” statement can be both a hypothesis and a prediction. However, their contexts differ:

• Hypothesis: It is a tentative explanation for an observation or phenomenon that can be tested experimentally. When written in the “if-then” format, it usually predicts a relationship between variables based on theoretical understanding.Example: “If a plant is given caffeine, then it will grow faster.”
• Prediction: It is a specific, testable statement about what will happen under particular conditions. It is based on the hypothesis and narrows down the expected outcomes of an experiment.Example: “If a bean plant is watered with a 1% caffeine solution daily, then after one month, it will be 10% taller than plants watered with plain water.”

How do you write an If Then Hypothesis Statement? – A Step by Step Guide

• Identify the Variables: Determine the independent variable (the factor you’ll change) and the dependent variable (the factor you’ll measure).
• Frame the Relationship: Using your understanding of the topic, establish a potential relationship between the identified variables.
• Start with “If”: Begin your hypothesis with “If” followed by your independent variable.
• Follow with “Then”: After stating your independent variable, include “then” followed by the potential outcome or change in the dependent variable you expect.
• Review for Clarity: Ensure your hypothesis is clear, concise, and testable. It should state a specific relationship between the variables.

Tips for Writing If Then Hypothesis

• Be Specific: Ensure your variables are clearly defined. Instead of “If I water plants more,” use “If I water plants twice daily.”
• Ensure Testability: Your hypothesis should propose a relationship that can be tested through an experiment.
• Avoid Conclusions: A hypothesis is a prediction, not a conclusion. It shouldn’t state a known fact but should be based on prior knowledge.
• Use Simple Language: Especially when the audience might not have a deep understanding of the topic. Keeping it straightforward ensures comprehension.
• Revise and Refine: After drafting your hypothesis, revisit it to check for clarity, specificity, and relevance to the research question at hand.

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How to Write a Strong Hypothesis | Guide & Examples

Published on 6 May 2022 by Shona McCombes .

A hypothesis is a statement that can be tested by scientific research. If you want to test a relationship between two or more variables, you need to write hypotheses before you start your experiment or data collection.

Table of contents

What is a hypothesis, developing a hypothesis (with example), hypothesis examples, frequently asked questions about writing hypotheses.

A hypothesis states your predictions about what your research will find. It is a tentative answer to your research question that has not yet been tested. For some research projects, you might have to write several hypotheses that address different aspects of your research question.

A hypothesis is not just a guess – it should be based on existing theories and knowledge. It also has to be testable, which means you can support or refute it through scientific research methods (such as experiments, observations, and statistical analysis of data).

Variables in hypotheses

Hypotheses propose a relationship between two or more variables . An independent variable is something the researcher changes or controls. A dependent variable is something the researcher observes and measures.

In this example, the independent variable is exposure to the sun – the assumed cause . The dependent variable is the level of happiness – the assumed effect .

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Step 1: ask a question.

Writing a hypothesis begins with a research question that you want to answer. The question should be focused, specific, and researchable within the constraints of your project.

Step 2: Do some preliminary research

Your initial answer to the question should be based on what is already known about the topic. Look for theories and previous studies to help you form educated assumptions about what your research will find.

At this stage, you might construct a conceptual framework to identify which variables you will study and what you think the relationships are between them. Sometimes, you’ll have to operationalise more complex constructs.

Step 3: Formulate your hypothesis

Now you should have some idea of what you expect to find. Write your initial answer to the question in a clear, concise sentence.

Step 4: Refine your hypothesis

You need to make sure your hypothesis is specific and testable. There are various ways of phrasing a hypothesis, but all the terms you use should have clear definitions, and the hypothesis should contain:

• The relevant variables
• The specific group being studied
• The predicted outcome of the experiment or analysis

Step 5: Phrase your hypothesis in three ways

To identify the variables, you can write a simple prediction in if … then form. The first part of the sentence states the independent variable and the second part states the dependent variable.

In academic research, hypotheses are more commonly phrased in terms of correlations or effects, where you directly state the predicted relationship between variables.

If you are comparing two groups, the hypothesis can state what difference you expect to find between them.

Step 6. Write a null hypothesis

If your research involves statistical hypothesis testing , you will also have to write a null hypothesis. The null hypothesis is the default position that there is no association between the variables. The null hypothesis is written as H 0 , while the alternative hypothesis is H 1 or H a .

Hypothesis testing is a formal procedure for investigating our ideas about the world using statistics. It is used by scientists to test specific predictions, called hypotheses , by calculating how likely it is that a pattern or relationship between variables could have arisen by chance.

A hypothesis is not just a guess. It should be based on existing theories and knowledge. It also has to be testable, which means you can support or refute it through scientific research methods (such as experiments, observations, and statistical analysis of data).

A research hypothesis is your proposed answer to your research question. The research hypothesis usually includes an explanation (‘ x affects y because …’).

A statistical hypothesis, on the other hand, is a mathematical statement about a population parameter. Statistical hypotheses always come in pairs: the null and alternative hypotheses. In a well-designed study , the statistical hypotheses correspond logically to the research hypothesis.

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Learn How To Write A Hypothesis For Your Next Research Project!

Undoubtedly, research plays a crucial role in substantiating or refuting our assumptions. These assumptions act as potential answers to our questions. Such assumptions, also known as hypotheses, are considered key aspects of research. In this blog, we delve into the significance of hypotheses. And provide insights on how to write them effectively. So, let’s dive in and explore the art of writing hypotheses together.

Table of Contents

What is a Hypothesis?

A hypothesis is a crucial starting point in scientific research. It is an educated guess about the relationship between two or more variables. In other words, a hypothesis acts as a foundation for a researcher to build their study.

Here are some examples of well-crafted hypotheses:

• Increased exposure to natural sunlight improves sleep quality in adults.

A positive relationship between natural sunlight exposure and sleep quality in adult individuals.

• Playing puzzle games on a regular basis enhances problem-solving abilities in children.

Engaging in frequent puzzle gameplay leads to improved problem-solving skills in children.

• Students and improved learning hecks.

S tudents using online  paper writing service  platforms (as a learning tool for receiving personalized feedback and guidance) will demonstrate improved writing skills. (compared to those who do not utilize such platforms).

• The use of APA format in research papers. 

Using the  APA format  helps students stay organized when writing research papers. Organized students can focus better on their topics and, as a result, produce better quality work.

The Building Blocks of a Hypothesis

To better understand the concept of a hypothesis, let’s break it down into its basic components:

• Variables . A hypothesis involves at least two variables. An independent variable and a dependent variable. The independent variable is the one being changed or manipulated, while the dependent variable is the one being measured or observed.
• Relationship : A hypothesis proposes a relationship or connection between the variables. This could be a cause-and-effect relationship or a correlation between them.
• Testability : A hypothesis should be testable and falsifiable, meaning it can be proven right or wrong through experimentation or observation.

Types of Hypotheses

When learning how to write a hypothesis, it’s essential to understand its main types. These include; alternative hypotheses and null hypotheses. In the following section, we explore both types of hypotheses with examples. 

Alternative Hypothesis (H1)

This kind of hypothesis suggests a relationship or effect between the variables. It is the main focus of the study. The researcher wants to either prove or disprove it. Many research divides this hypothesis into two subsections: 

• Directional 

This type of H1 predicts a specific outcome. Many researchers use this hypothesis to explore the relationship between variables rather than the groups. 

• Non-directional

You can take a guess from the name. This type of H1 does not provide a specific prediction for the research outcome. 

Here are some examples for your better understanding of how to write a hypothesis.

• Consuming caffeine improves cognitive performance.  (This hypothesis predicts that there is a positive relationship between caffeine consumption and cognitive performance.)
• Aerobic exercise leads to reduced blood pressure.  (This hypothesis suggests that engaging in aerobic exercise results in lower blood pressure readings.)
• Exposure to nature reduces stress levels among employees.  (Here, the hypothesis proposes that employees exposed to natural environments will experience decreased stress levels.)
• Listening to classical music while studying increases memory retention.  (This hypothesis speculates that studying with classical music playing in the background boosts students’ ability to retain information.)
• Early literacy intervention improves reading skills in children.  (This hypothesis claims that providing early literacy assistance to children results in enhanced reading abilities.)
• Time management in nursing students. ( Students who use a  nursing research paper writing service  have more time to focus on their studies and can achieve better grades in other subjects. )

Null Hypothesis (H0)

A null hypothesis assumes no relationship or effect between the variables. If the alternative hypothesis is proven to be false, the null hypothesis is considered to be true. Usually a null hypothesis shows no direct correlation between the defined variables. 

Here are some of the examples

• The consumption of herbal tea has no effect on sleep quality.  (This hypothesis assumes that herbal tea consumption does not impact the quality of sleep.)
• The number of hours spent playing video games is unrelated to academic performance.  (Here, the null hypothesis suggests that no relationship exists between video gameplay duration and academic achievement.)
• Implementing flexible work schedules has no influence on employee job satisfaction.  (This hypothesis contends that providing flexible schedules does not affect how satisfied employees are with their jobs.)
• Writing ability of a 7th grader is not affected by reading editorial example. ( There is no relationship between reading an  editorial example  and improving a 7th grader’s writing abilities.) 
• The type of lighting in a room does not affect people’s mood.  (In this null hypothesis, there is no connection between the kind of lighting in a room and the mood of those present.)
• The use of social media during break time does not impact productivity at work.  (This hypothesis proposes that social media usage during breaks has no effect on work productivity.)

As you learn how to write a hypothesis, remember that aiming for clarity, testability, and relevance to your research question is vital. By mastering this skill, you’re well on your way to conducting impactful scientific research. Good luck!

Importance of a Hypothesis in Research

A well-structured hypothesis is a vital part of any research project for several reasons:

• It provides clear direction for the study by setting its focus and purpose.
• It outlines expectations of the research, making it easier to measure results.
• It helps identify any potential limitations in the study, allowing researchers to refine their approach.

In conclusion, a hypothesis plays a fundamental role in the research process. By understanding its concept and constructing a well-thought-out hypothesis, researchers lay the groundwork for a successful, scientifically sound investigation.

How to Write a Hypothesis?

Here are five steps that you can follow to write an effective hypothesis. 

Step 1: Identify Your Research Question

The first step in learning how to compose a hypothesis is to clearly define your research question. This question is the central focus of your study and will help you determine the direction of your hypothesis.

Step 2: Determine the Variables

When exploring how to write a hypothesis, it’s crucial to identify the variables involved in your study. You’ll need at least two variables:

• Independent variable : The factor you manipulate or change in your experiment.
• Dependent variable : The outcome or result you observe or measure, which is influenced by the independent variable.

Step 3: Build the Hypothetical Relationship

In understanding how to compose a hypothesis, constructing the relationship between the variables is key. Based on your research question and variables, predict the expected outcome or connection. This prediction should be specific, testable, and, if possible, expressed in the “If…then” format.

Step 4: Write the Null Hypothesis

When mastering how to write a hypothesis, it’s important to create a null hypothesis as well. The null hypothesis assumes no relationship or effect between the variables, acting as a counterpoint to your primary hypothesis.

Step 5: Review Your Hypothesis

Finally, when learning how to compose a hypothesis, it’s essential to review your hypothesis for clarity, testability, and relevance to your research question. Make any necessary adjustments to ensure it provides a solid basis for your study.

In conclusion, understanding how to write a hypothesis is crucial for conducting successful scientific research. By focusing on your research question and carefully building relationships between variables, you will lay a strong foundation for advancing research and knowledge in your field.

Hypothesis vs. Prediction: What’s the Difference?

Understanding the differences between a hypothesis and a prediction is crucial in scientific research. Often, these terms are used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings and functions. This segment aims to clarify these differences and explain how to compose a hypothesis correctly, helping you improve the quality of your research projects.

Hypothesis: The Foundation of Your Research

A hypothesis is an educated guess about the relationship between two or more variables. It provides the basis for your research question and is a starting point for an experiment or observational study.

The critical elements for a hypothesis include:

• Specificity: A clear and concise statement that describes the relationship between variables.
• Testability: The ability to test the hypothesis through experimentation or observation.

To learn how to write a hypothesis, it’s essential to identify your research question first and then predict the relationship between the variables.

Prediction: The Expected Outcome

A prediction is a statement about a specific outcome you expect to see in your experiment or observational study. It’s derived from the hypothesis and provides a measurable way to test the relationship between variables.

Here’s an example of how to write a hypothesis and a related prediction:

• Hypothesis: Consuming a high-sugar diet leads to weight gain.
• Prediction: People who consume a high-sugar diet for six weeks will gain more weight than those who maintain a low-sugar diet during the same period.

Key Differences Between a Hypothesis and a Prediction

While a hypothesis and prediction are both essential components of scientific research, there are some key differences to keep in mind:

• A hypothesis is an educated guess that suggests a relationship between variables, while a prediction is a specific and measurable outcome based on that hypothesis.
• A hypothesis can give rise to multiple experiment or observational study predictions.

To conclude, understanding the differences between a hypothesis and a prediction, and learning how to write a hypothesis, are essential steps to form a robust foundation for your research. By creating clear, testable hypotheses along with specific, measurable predictions, you lay the groundwork for scientifically sound investigations.

Here’s a wrap-up for this guide on how to write a hypothesis. We’re confident this article was helpful for many of you. We understand that many students struggle with writing their school research . However, we hope to continue assisting you through our blog tutorial on writing different aspects of academic assignments.

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How To Write A Hypothesis Guide And Detailed Instructions

Whether you’re studying for a college degree, MBA, or Ph.D., developing a hypothesis for your research is mandatory. You must know how to write a good hypothesis to impress your professors. Now, how should a hypothesis be written?

This is where some students get confused and exhausted. You already know that you’re to formulate a hypothesis around something testable. But you don’t know how to create hypotheses based on previous observations that you would later explain in your paper or journal.

In this article, you’ll learn what a hypothesis is, how to make a hypothesis, examples of how to write hypothesis statement, and how to go about yours.

What Is A Hypothesis?

A hypothesis is a statement that is not proven, and it’s an assumption that you’ll base your research on. They must be testable: they must have answers that can be checked with experiments and evidence.

The theory around your hypothesis becomes valid when it’s proven to be true through experiments. Scientists have rules for writing that make their chemistry, physics, and biology research reproducible.

An essential part is that they must understand the experiments of others so that they can build on them and improve them. These rules define how scientists write about science. This rule applies to hypotheses, too.

Why Do You Need A Hypothesis?

Writing a good hypothesis is a key part of any scientific exploration. It allows a broad and open-ended question that compels you to investigate. There are many other reasons, including:

It’s different from a theory because a theory is something like:

“The earth orbits around the sun.”

This is not testable because we know that it’s true. A theory is more like an explanation for why something happens, while a hypothesis is a guess about what will happen and why it would.

A hypothesis is a statement of the relationship you’ve observed in a pair of variables. The easiest way to think about it is that the hypothesis is your testable statement for your research project.

You would typically use your background knowledge and experience as a researcher to come up with this statement before you set out to collect data. A good hypothesis will give you insight into what kind of data you need to collect to answer the question (or provide evidence).

For example:

“People who live in cities have higher stress levels than those who live in rural areas because there are more people around them all day long!”

This hypothesis would then lead us to ask questions like “How do we measure stress?” or “What factors contribute to stress?” You’ll provide answers to these questions with the paper.

A hypothesis can be proven or disproven throughout an experiment. The most common way to disprove a hypothesis is through statistical significance testing. This entails using probability and data analysis to show that there’s no practical difference between the two compared groups.

The hypothesis is a testable statement about how the world works. It’s also a way to properly arrange and structure your data. Without a hypothesis, you won’t even know what to set your scientific experiment on. A hypothesis is what you’ll use to predict what will happen in the future, and the data you collect during the research will help validate or disprove this.

In science, you’re always trying to figure out why things happen the way they do and what factors affect them. When you know how something works, “why do some people get sick while others don’t?” You might make up a hypothesis to test your idea: “People who are exposed to germs get flu symptoms.” Here’s how to start a hypothesis as the answer lets you determine whether your idea is right or wrong; an experiment then validates (or disproves) it.

Now that you know why you need to formulate a testable hypothesis, learn how to write a research hypothesis with tangible examples.

How To Write A Hypothesis

Before you start your experiments in the lab, it’s important to take some time to think about what you’re trying to achieve. After all, you can’t know your research destination until you plan it beforehand. This is why mastering how to state a hypothesis gives room for healthy predictions. Here’s how you formulate hypothesis:

Your first step is to determine what you want to investigate. You can start with a question you’d like to answer or a problem that needs solving.For example, if you’re a teacher trying to improve your students’ reading skills, you might ask:

“What techniques can I use for my students to boost reading comprehension scores on their standardized tests?”

This could also be stated as “Do test-taking strategies lead to improved standardized test scores?”

Once your question pops in your mind, especially while reflecting on a scientific paper you’ve read or a documentary you saw, write it down and commence research.

You need some facts to state a hypothesis and prove it. It might be tricky to get these facts, and you’ll want to look for relevant and irrelevant information.

Relevant information is directly related to your hypothesis. For example, your relevant sources would be academic, examination, and psychology journals, quantitative data or news outlets for the above statement.

Irrelevant information is any other kind of data, and this could be random news outlets or interviews that could help bolster what your assumptions are.

Use the word “because” to indicate that your variable causes or explains another variable. For example: If we are testing whether exercise leads to weight loss, our sentence might look like this:

“Consistent gym practice causes weight loss because it burns calories and gets the body in shape.”

You need to identify if your hypothesis is testable or if it’s an opinion you can’t prove. You can’t test what you don’t know or can’t prove. So you’d need to rewrite your hypothesis if you think it’s not testable.

Your hypothesis should be clear, concise, testable, specific, and relevant. The best way to do this is to write a brief summary of your hypothesis in the form: “If X happens, then Y will happen.”

Here’s a sample hypothesis:

“If I add 15 minutes to my sitting time everyday, then my body mass index (BMI) will reduce by 5 points in three months.”

Now that you’ve defined your idea, it’s time for the actual experiment to determine whether it’ll work.

How To Write A Hypothesis Statement: Example Of A Hypothesis

There are numerous examples of a hypothesis statement you can take a clue from. A scientific hypothesis examines two variables that need evidence-based research to be considered valid. For example:

“If I increase the amount of water applied to a plant garden, then it will make it grow faster.”

You have identified the independent and dependent variables in this statement. The independent variable is “amount of water applied,” and the dependent variable is “grow faster.” You also included a control group, which is important in scientific experiments to eliminate bias from other factors that could influence your results.

In this case, you are comparing how much growth there would be if you increase the amount of water versus how much growth there would be if you do not increase it.

You then need to research the topic in detail and design an experiment before you can write your report. The first step is to decide what you’re going to measure, how you’ll measure it, and how many times you’ll do this so that it’s accurate.

Once you’ve measured your experiment, interpreting the results can be challenging. You should look at graphs or charts of your data to see if any patterns or trends might indicate a cause-and-effect relationship between two things (like applying more water to the plant garden and faster growth).

After looking at the results of your experiment and deciding whether or not they support your original hypothesis, use this new knowledge in your conclusion. Write up something like:

“Based on my findings, it’s clear that applying more water to any plant garden would make the plant garden grow faster and greener.”

Then, write an introduction section where you can explain why this project interests/matters/is relevant to your reader. At this point, your hypothesis is no longer an educated guess. It started as one (with the observation or thoughts/idea) and ended as verifiable.

Format For Hypothesis: How Should A Hypothesis Be Written?

The usual format of a hypothesis is If – (then) – because.

Because we have the idea that if a hypothesis is formatted as an if-then statement, it’s clear what the hypothesis is about. This can be helpful for your readers and yourself if you ever need to come back and look at your work.

So, now that you know how to format it correctly (and why) let’s look at some hypothesis examples.

“If snow falls, then I’ll catch a cold when I get outside because cold can be a result of heavy snow.”

“If anyone in my family eats cake, then we will feel sick because the cake contains ingredients we are allergic to.”

“Some grasses never grow because they’re stumped every day.”

All these show that two variables must come together in the sentence. The variables must also be a probability the research attempts to solve to make them valid statements.

How To Know Your Hypothesis Is Good

Now that you know how to create a hypothesis, you need to know if it’s good through these pointers:

State a Hypothesis as Clearly as Possible You can choose precise words that are neither ambiguous nor too technical. You should also avoid jargon and words with multiple meanings to keep your language simple and clear. Don’t use fancy or pretentious words unless they’re absolutely necessary for the meaning you want to convey, and make sure you’ve used them in their correct context. In addition, use a tone of voice appropriate to the audience. A scientific paper may need more formal language than an article for popular consumption. A Good Hypothesis Should Explain the Bond Between Multiple Variables The main purpose of forming a hypothesis is to explain the relationship between multiple variables clearly. The relationship should be testable for it to be proven. This is, why if X leads to Y, what is in between that connects X and Y? This must reflect in the hypothesis as it’s the factor that’ll be experimented. A Hypothesis should Be Testable This means that your hypothesis should be a statement that can be proven or disproven with an experiment. You want to make sure your hypothesis is specific enough to guide you towards the right experiment but not so specific that it eliminates any other possible outcomes of your experiment. Also, a hypothesis should not make claims about unobservable things (like feelings or thoughts). Instead, focus on observable results (things we can see) like measurements and observations from experiments conducted by scientists over time.If your hypothesis isn’t testable, then it needs to be reformulated.

What Should You Do If Your Hypothesis Is Incorrect?

You need to reformulate your thesis if it’s incorrect. You may have to reevaluate the problem or look at it differently. It’s also possible that you need to test your hypothesis with a different method of experimentation.

Here are some ideas from the best scientific thesis writing help experts:

Try Another Approach: Try looking at your hypothesis from a different angle, or consider changing up your methods entirely (for example, instead of asking people what they think will happen in the future and then testing their opinions against reality, you could run an experiment where participants predict events and then actually follow up on those predictions). Share Your Idea with a Third Party: Your hypothesis can be tested by allowing a third party to observe the results of your attempt to prove or disprove the statement. For example, if you’re testing whether peanuts can be made into peanut butter using only as few steps as possible, have someone else make it for you or observe them make it.

Document how you made your product and recorded any necessary changes along the way. This will help you know what works and doesn’t so that you’ll make changes to the whole idea.

Get Hypothesis Writing Help

Writing a hypothesis is smart work. You need professionals who know how to write a scientific hypothesis and journal that reflect the experiment supporting the hypothesis. You need professionals who are also expert writers and can offer writing help online.

We offer some of the best writing helpers online, with fast with turnovers. Our writers create the best hypothesis scenario with the possibility to ace any experiment at a cheap price. They will offer writing help if you need these professionals to help write a good hypothesis for you. After all, you need to complete your degrees stronger than you started. A great paper by professionals can seal that deal, and our master thesis writing service is here to help.

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Developing a Hypothesis

Two girls exploring plant life in the woods (Christine Glade, iStockphoto)

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Learn what makes a good hypothesis, and how to develop one.

Developing a Scientific Hypothesis

After identifying a  testable question , it is important for students to research and or/review what they already know about the scientific principles involved in their experimental inquiries. After that, and before conducting the inquiry through testing and observation, students need to develop a scientific  hypothesis .

Is a hypothesis the same as a guess?

The short answer is no! Anyone can make a guess about anything. Guesses are not generally based on knowledge, but rather are rough estimates that people give when they don’t know the answer to a question. A scientific hypothesis, on the other hand, is not only based on prior knowledge and experiences but also on known factual information obtained through research.

Misconception Alert Like making an estimate in math, a hypothesis should be written before doing an inquiry, not after!

Is a hypothesis the same as a prediction? 

Again, the answer is no, although the distinction between these two terms is not always clear. A  prediction  is an estimate or forecast about something that might happen or the way that something will be based on prior knowledge and experience and known facts (e.g., I predict it will rain tomorrow, I predict that my plant will have two seed leaves, etc.).

Shown is a colour photograph of a boat near a beach in the rain. The camera lens is sprinkled with rain drops. These are in sharp focus, in the foreground. Most of the rest of the photograph is out of focus in the background.  There is a strip of dark green grass along the bottom of the frame. Above that is a strip of beige sand. The water is shaded from light grey at the bottom to medium grey at the top. A dark green hill rises up behind the water, to the left. The sky is mottled with grey, white and blueish grey clouds. A small, yellow wooden rowboat is in sharp focus. It is moored to the shore with a white rope, next to a round, orange float.

Like a prediction, a hypothesis forecasts what might happen, but a hypothesis goes beyond a prediction. It includes not only what might happen, but why something might happen. In other words, it explains the relationship between variables. The most significant difference between a prediction and an hypothesis is that a hypothesis is intended to lead to a testable investigation, whereas a prediction is not.

To put it in a different way, a prediction is an estimate of an end result (e.g., I predict that the plant will be tall) whereas a hypothesis is a statement that attempts to explain a phenomena by relating cause and effect (e.g., if we give plants more water, then they will grow taller).

Shown is a colour photograph of water falling from a blue watering can onto a pink flowering plant.  The frame is filled with green foliage. In the background, out of focus, is a row of pink, flowering plants in boxes along a wooden railing. In the foreground, a gloved hand tips a large, cornflower blue watering can over the first plant.

Misconception Alert Not every inquiry lends itself to the testing of a hypothesis. Many inquiries involve research questions that ask if relationships exist among variables or involve situations where testing is not possible, such as population inquiries, historical inquiries, etc. For example, you could never test a hypothesis about which type of food a given dinosaur preferred to eat!

Shown is a colour photograph of miniature plastic dinosaurs gathered around a piece of broccoli that resembles a tree.  A piece of broccoli stands upright in the middle of the photograph. It has a long, pale green stem and a full, dark green floret. It looks like a green tree with branches and tiny leaves. Five toy dinosaurs have been placed around the broccoli so they look like they're snacking it. They are a little bit shorter than the broccoli, so their mouths reach the bushiest parts of it.  The dinosaur in the foreground is dark reddish brown with scaly-looking skin and tiny arms. Behind it, a dark green dinosaur with a long neck stretches to the low branches. In the background, a dark brown triceratops looks on. The long neck of a black dinosaur reaches in from the left, to get the higher leaves. On the far left, a bright yellow dinosaur is about to join the meal.

How do you develop a scientific hypothesis?

In order to develop a hypothesis, one should have:

• A good  testable question
• Understanding of the dependent, independent and control  variables  of interest
• Some prior knowledge, such as from observations and research
• Thoughts about how the inquiry could be done (the method)

For example, students may begin with the question:

How does the duration of light exposure affect the surface area of tomato plant leaves?

The variables are:

• Independent = duration of light
• Dependent = surface area of plant leaves
• Controlled = water, soil, seed source, etc.

How then do we formulate a hypothesis from this testable question? A good hypothesis tends to follow the format:

If  we do/change this 

Then  this will happen/be observed, because  we know this., if  these changes are made to a certain independent variable,, then  will we observe a change in a specific dependent variable, because  of our prior knowledge and research..

In the example above, the students have identified that they are interested in exploring how the duration of light affects plants, perhaps exposing plants from the same batch of seeds to light for different numbers of hours (e.g., one hour, two hours, etc.). Knowing that plants need light to grow (from prior knowledge or research), then they may hypothesize that the leaves of a plant may be larger given a longer exposure to light. Knowing all of this, their hypothesis might be:

If  we expose plants to a greater number of hours of light,  then  the surface area of the tomato plant leaves will be larger  because  light affects plant growth.

What makes for a good hypothesis.

A good hypothesis is:

• A statement  The hypothesis is  not  the same as the testable question. The hypothesis is a tentative explanation of what is thought will happen during the inquiry.
• Testable  What is changed (independent variable) and what is affected by the change (dependent variable) should be measurable and observable.
• Falsifiable  A good hypothesis can be either supported or shown to be false by the data collected.
• Clear.  It should be obvious what will be tested, how it will be tested (what will be measured to prove or disprove the hypothesis), and what is expected to happen.

A good question and hypothesis should also help students find answers that are not obvious to them or generally known. For example, most students will know that if you do not water a plant, it will die, so developing a hypothesis such as:

If  we stop watering our plants  then  the plants will die  because  plants need water in order to live.

is overly simplistic and will not help students expand their knowledge. A good experimental inquiry will help students discover things they do not already know.

Misconception Alert The goal of a hypothesis is NOT for a student to be “right.” Having evidence that shows a hypothesis to be false is just as important as having evidence that shows it to be true. A hypothesis is NOT something you prove – it is something you test!

How to develop a Tomatosphere™ hypothesis 

In the Seed Investigation, a testable question is provided to the students:

How does exposure to the space environment or space-like conditions affect the number of tomato seeds that germinate?

In the  variables  section, the dependent and independent variables were identified.

Independent variable :  Seed treatment – Some seeds have been to space or are exposed to space-like conditions in years when seeds do not go to space, while some seeds have not been to space or exposed to space-like conditions.

Dependent variable : Number of seeds that germinate.

What is not provided to the students is a hypothesis to follow from this question. Using the “if…..then…because….” format, have the students develop their hypotheses for the Tomatosphere™ testable question. For example:

If  tomato plant seeds are exposed to the conditions of space,  then  fewer ‘space’ seeds will germinate than non- ‘space’ seeds  because  radiation levels found in space may damage cells in the seeds.

This is not the only possible hypothesis, but it shows some understanding of how plants might be affected by space conditions (e.g., radiation affecting DNA in cells, microgravity affecting growth, etc.) which might be derived from prior knowledge or research.

Is this a good hypothesis? Yes

• It is a statement.
• It is testable.  What is changed (being in space or not) and what is affected by the change (number of seeds germinated) can be measured and observed.
• It is falsifiable.  The student can use the data collected to be able to decide if it supports their hypothesis or if it shows the hypothesis is false (statement is false – more ‘space’ seeds germinate or the germination rate is the same).
• It is clear.  It should be obvious what will be tested (seed germination), how it will be tested (seeds are grown to the point of germination), and what is expected to happen (fewer space seeds will germinate).

To assist with practicing writing a hypothesis, students could be provided with a checklist, such as this one, also available as a [ Google doc ] and [ PDF ].

Writing a Strong Hypothesis Checklist

Hypothesis is a statement that correctly follows the format:

"If _____ then ______ because _________

Hypothesis relates to the Testable Question

Hypothesis makes sense (based on observations and/or research)

Hypothesis can be falsified

Hypothesis includes a cause and effect relationship

Hypothesis could be tested with measurements

Hypothesis is easy to understand

Guided Practice

Have students read the following statements and determine if these are good, okay, or poor hypotheses and why.

Have students use the  Writing a Strong Hypothesis Checklist  for creating a Tomatosphere™ or other hypothesis.

Why is this a good hypothesis? ✓  It is a  statement  that follows the “if….then…because” format. ✓ It is testable.  What is changed (red light vs. green light) and what is affected by the change (size of leaves) is measurable and observable. ✓ It is falsifiable.  It can be supported by evidence (statement is true – leaves will be bigger, statement is untrue – leaves will be smaller or the same size). ✓ It is clear.  It is obvious what will be tested (two colours of light), how it will be tested (at six weeks of age the plant leaves will be measured), and what is expected to happen (plants grown in red light will have bigger leaves). B): 

Why is this a poor hypothesis? ✓  It is a  statement  that follows the “if….then…because” format. ✓ It is not testable.  The variables are very vague. What are the classroom conditions compared to the outdoor conditions? Is the interest in soil? Light? Temperature? What kinds of plants will be grown. ✗ It is not falsifiable.  It would be difficult to support or falsify with evidence because it is vague. ✗ It is not clear.  It is not obvious what will be tested (Soil? Temperature? Light?), how it will be tested and what is expected to happen (what does “better” mean? Taller? Bigger leaves? Flower sooner?). Have students work on changing this vague hypothesis into a more specific one by identifying variables to explore. C): 

Why is this just an “okay” hypothesis? ✓  It is a  statement  that follows the “if….then…because” format. ✗ It is somewhat testable.  What is changed (sugar water vs. regular water) is clear, but what is affected by the change (“better”) is vague. Will the plants be taller? Grow faster? ✗ It is not falsifiable.  It would be difficult to support or falsify with evidence because the “better” is vague. ✗ It is somewhat clear.   It is obvious what will be tested (maple syrup being added to the water) and how it will be tested, but what is expected to happen is not clear (what does “better” mean? Taller? Bigger leaves? Flower sooner?). Have students work on changing this somewhat vague hypothesis into a more specific one by identifying a dependent variable.

A Strong Hypothesis - Science Buddies  (2010) This blog post by Science Buddies explains the parts of a good hypothesis, and the role a hypothesis plays in the scientific process.

Theory vs. Hypothesis vs. Law… Explained!  (2015) This video (7:11 min.) from PBS Studios Be Smart explains how these words mean something totally different in science than in everyday speech, and how they all help us understand how the universe works.

Misconceptions about Science This page by Understanding Science at UC Berkeley gives a thorough definition of the word hypothesis, in a scientific context, as opposed to everyday language.

What is a Scientific Hypothesis?  (2022) This article by Alina Bradford at Live Science discusses what makes a hypothesis testable, the different types of hypotheses, and hypothesis vs. theory.

Writing a Hypothesis  (2013) This video (4:58 min.) by mreppsclassroom explains the purpose of a hypothesis and how to construct one.

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Writing a hypothesis using if and then

Anne Helmenstine, Ph.D. is an author and consultant with a broad scientific and medical background. Read more

Updated August 19, 2015.

Question: What Are Examples of a Hypothesis?

Answer: Although you could state a scientific hypothesis in various ways, most hypothesis are either "If, then" statements or else forms of the null hypothesis. The null hypothesis sometimes is called the "no difference" hypothesis. The null hypothesis is good for experimentation because it’;s simple to disprove.

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If you disprove a null hypothesis. that is evidence for a relationship between the variables you are examining. For example:

Examples of the Null Hypothesis

• Hyperactivity is unrelated to eating sugar.
• All daisies have the same number of petals.
• The number of pets in a household is unrelated to the number of people living in it.
• A person’;s preference for a shirt is unrelated to its color.

Examples of an If, Then Hypothesis

• If you get at least 6 hours of sleep, you will do better on tests than if you get less sleep.
• If you drop a ball, it will fall toward the ground.
• If you drink coffee before going to bed, then it will take longer to fall asleep.
• If you cover a wound with a bandage, then it will heal with less scarring.

Improving a Hypothesis To Make It Testable

While there are many ways to state a hypothesis, you may wish to revise your first hypothesis in order to make it easier to design an experiment to test it. For example, let’;s say you have a bad breakout the morning after eating a lot of greasy food. You may wonder if there is a correlation between eating greasy food and getting pimples.

You propose a hypothesis:

Eating greasy food causes pimples.

Next you need to design an experiment to test this hypothesis. Let’;s say you decide to eat greasy food every day for a week and record the effect on your face. Then, as a control, for the next week you’;ll avoid greasy food and see what happens. Now, this is not a very good experiment because it does not take into account other factors, such as hormone levels, stress, sun exposure, exercise or any number of other variables which might conceivably affect your skin. The problem is that you cannot assign cause to your effect. If you eat french fries for a week and suffer a breakout, can you definitely say it was the grease in the food that caused it? Maybe it was the salt. Maybe it was the potato. Maybe it was unrelated to diet.You can’;t prove your hypothesis. It’;s much easier to disprove a hypothesis. So, let’;s restate the hypothesis to make it easy to evaluate the data.

Getting pimples is unaffected by eating greasy food.

So, if you eat fatty food every day for a week and suffer breakouts and then don’;t breakout the week that you avoid greasy food, you can be pretty sure something is up. Can you disprove the hypothesis? Probably not, since it is so hard to assign cause and effect. However, you can make a strong case that there is some relationship between diet and acne.

A hypothesis is a description of a pattern in nature or an explanation about some real-world phenomenon that can be tested through observation and experimentation. The most common way a hypothesis is used in scientific research is as a tentative, testable, and falsifiable statement that explains some observed phenomenon in nature.ok ok [1] We more specifically call this kind of statement an explanatory hypothesis . However, a hypothesis can also be a statement that describes an observed pattern in nature. In this case we call the statement a generalizing hypothesis . [2] [3] Hypotheses can generate predictions . statements that propose that one variable will drive some effect on or change in another variable in the result of a controlled experiment. However, many science resources promote the myth that a hypothesis is simply an educated guess and no different from a prediction. [4] More on this misunderstanding below.

Many academic fields, from the physical sciences to the life sciences to the social sciences, use hypothesis testing as a means of testing ideas to learn about the world and advance scientific knowledge. Whether you are a beginning scholar or a beginning student taking a class in a science subject, understanding what hypotheses are and being able to generate hypotheses and predictions yourself is very important. These instructions will help get you started.

Part One of Two: Preparing to Write a Hypothesis Edit

Select a topic. Pick a topic that interests you, and that you think it would be good to know more about.

• If you are writing a hypothesis for a school assignment, this step may be taken care of for you.

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Read existing research. Gather all the information you can about the topic you’ve selected. You’ll need to become an expert on the subject and develop a good grasp of what is already known about the topic.

• Focus on academic and scholarly writing. You need to be certain that your information is unbiased, accurate, and comprehensive.
• You can find information in textbooks, at a library, and online. If you are in school, you can also ask for help from teachers, librarians, and your peers.

Analyze the literature. Spend some time reading the materials you’ve collected. As you do so, look for and make note of unanswered questions in the literature. These can provide excellent ideas for areas to investigate.

• For example, if you are interested in the effects of caffeine on the human body, but notice that nobody seems to have explored whether caffeine affects men differently than it does women, this could be something to formulate a hypothesis about. Or, if you are interested in organic farming, you might notice that no one has tested whether organic fertilizer results in different growth rates for plants than non-organic fertilizer.
• You can sometimes find holes in the existing literature by looking for statements like “it is unknown” or places where information is clearly missing. You might also find a claim in the literature that seems far-fetched, unlikely, or too good to be true, like that caffeine improves math skills. If the claim is testable, you could provide a great service to scientific knowledge by doing your own investigation. If you confirm the claim, the claim becomes even more credible. If you do not find support for the claim, you are helping with the necessary self-correcting aspect of science.
• Examining these types of questions provides an excellent way for you to set yourself apart by filling in important gaps in a field of study.

Generate questions. After studying the literature on your topic, generate one or more unanswered questions you’d be interested in exploring further. These are your research questions.

• Following the examples above, you might ask: “How does caffeine affect women as compared to men?” or “How does organic fertilizer affect plant growth compared to non-organic fertilizer?” The rest of your research will be aimed at answering these questions.

Look for clues as to what the answer might be. Once you have generated your research question or questions, look in the literature to see if the existing findings and/or theories about the topic provide any clues that would allow you to come up with ideas about what the answers to your research questions might be. If so, these clues can form the basis for your hypothesis.

• Following the examples above, if you discover in the literature that there is a pattern that some other types of stimulants seem to affect women more than men, this could be a clue that the same pattern might be true for caffeine. Similarly, if you observe the pattern that organic fertilizer seems to be associated with smaller plants overall, you might explain this pattern with the hypothesis that plants exposed to organic fertilizer grow more slowly than plants exposed to non-organic fertilizer.

Determine your variables. A generalizing hypothesis describes a pattern you think may exist between two variables: an independent variable and a dependent variable. If your experiments confirm the pattern, you may decide to suggest a reason that the pattern exists or a mechanism that generates the pattern. The reason or mechanism you suggest is an explanatory hypothesis .

• You can think of the independent variable as the one that is causing some kind of difference or effect to occur. In the examples, the independent variable would be gender, i.e. whether a person is male or female, and fertilizer type, i.e. whether the fertilizer is organic or non-organically-based.
• The dependent variable is what is affected by (i.e. “depends” on) the independent variable. In the examples above, the dependent variable would be the measured impact of caffeine or fertilizer.
• Your hypothesis should only suggest one relationship. Most importantly, it should only have one independent variable. If you have more than one, you won’t be able to determine which one is actually the source of any effects you might observe.

Generate a simple hypothesis. Once you’ve spent some time thinking about your research question and variables, write down your initial idea about how the variables might be related as a simple declarative statement.

• Don’t worry too much at this point about being precise or detailed.
• In the examples above, one hypothesis would make a statement about whether a person’s gender might impact the way the person is affected by caffeine; for example, at this point, your hypothesis might simply be: “a person’s gender is related to how caffeine affects his or her heart rate.” The other hypothesis would make a general statement about plant growth and fertilizer; for example your simple explanatory hypothesis might be “plants given different types of fertilizer are different sizes because they grow at different rates.”

Decide on direction. Hypotheses can either be directional or non-directional. A non-directional hypothesis simply says that one variable affects the other in some way, but does not say specifically in what way. A directional hypothesis provides more information about the nature (or “direction”) of the relationship, stating specifically how one variable affects the other.

• Using our example, our non-directional hypotheses would be “there is a relationship between a person’s gender and how much caffeine increases the person’s heart rate,” and “there is a relationship between fertilizer type and the speed at which plants grow.”
• Directional predictions using the same example hypotheses above would be. “Women will experience a greater increase in heart rate after consuming caffeine than will men,” and “plants fertilized with non-organic fertilizer will grow faster than those fertilized with organic fertilizer.” Indeed, these predictions and the hypotheses that allow for them are very different kinds of statements. More on this distinction below.
• If the literature provides any basis for making a directional prediction, it is better to do so, because it provides more information. Especially in the physical sciences, non-directional predictions are often seen as inadequate.

Get specific. Once you have an initial idea on paper, it’s time to start refining. Make your hypotheses as specific as you can, so it’s clear exactly what ideas you will be testing and make your predictions specific and measurable so that they provide evidence of a relationship between the variables.

• Where necessary, specify the population (i.e. the people or things) about which you hope to uncover new knowledge. For example, if you were only interested the effects of caffeine on elderly people, your prediction might read: “Women over the age of 65 will experience a greater increase in heart rate than will men of the same age.” If you were interested only in how fertilizer affects tomato plants, your prediction might read: “Tomato plants treated with non-organic fertilizer will grow faster in the first three months than will tomato plants treated with organic fertilizer.”

Make sure it is testable. Your hypothesis must suggest a relationship between two variables or a reason that two variables are related that can feasibly be observed and measured in the real and observable world .

• For example, you would not want to make the hypothesis: “red is the prettiest color.” This statement is an opinion and it cannot be tested with an experiment. However, proposing the generalizing hypothesis that red is the most popular color is testable with a simple random survey. If you do indeed confirm that red is the most popular color, your next step may be to ask: Why is red the most popular color? The answer you propose is your explanatory hypothesis .
• Often, hypotheses are stated in the form of if-then sentences. For example, “if children are given caffeine, then their heart rates will increase.” This statement is not a hypothesis. This kind of statement is a brief description of an experimental method followed by a prediction and is the most common way that hypotheses are misrepresented in science education. An easy way to get to the hypothesis for this method and prediction is to ask yourself why you think heart rates will increase if children are given caffeine. Your explanatory hypothesis in this case may be that caffeine is a stimulant. At this point, some scientists write what is called a research hypothesis . a statement that includes the hypothesis, the experiment, and the prediction all in one statement: If caffeine is a stimulant, and some children are given a drink with caffeine while others are given a drink without caffeine, then the heart rates of those children given a caffeinated drink will increase more than the heart rate of children given a non-caffeinated drink.
• It may sound strange, but researchers rarely ever prove that a hypothesis is right or wrong. Instead, they look for evidence that the opposite of their hypotheses is probably not true. If the opposite (caffeine is not a stimulant) is probably not true, the hypothesis (caffeine is a stimulant) probably is true.
• Using the above example, if you were to test the effects of caffeine on the heart rates of children, evidence that your hypothesis is not true, sometimes called the null hypothesis . could occur if the heart rates of both the children given the caffeinated drink and the children given the non-caffeinated drink (called the placebo control) did not change, or lowered or raised with the same magnitude, if there was no difference between the two groups of children. If you wanted to test the effects of different fertilizer types, evidence that your hypothesis was not true would be that the plants grew at the same rate, regardless of fertilizer, or if plants treated with organic fertilizer grew faster. It is important to note here that the null hypothesis actually becomes much more useful when researchers test the significance of their results with statistics. When statistics are used on the results of an experiment, a researcher is testing the idea of the null statistical hypothesis. For example, that there is no relationship between two variables or that there is no difference between two groups. [5]

Test your hypothesis. Make your observations or conduct your experiment. Your evidence may allow you to reject your null hypotheses, thus lending support to your experimental hypothesis. However, your evidence may not allow you to reject your null hypothesis and this is okay. Any result is important, even when your result sends you back to the drawing board. Constantly having to go “back to the drawing board” and refine your ideas is how authentic science really works! [6]

When examining the literature, look for research that is similar to what you want to do, and try to build on the findings of other researchers. But also look for claims that you think are suspicious, and test them yourself.

Be specific in your hypotheses, but not so specific that your hypothesis can’t be applied to anything outside your specific experiment. You definitely want to be clear about the population about which you are interested in drawing conclusions, but nobody (except your roommates) will be interested in reading a paper with the prediction: “my three roommates will each be able to do a different amount of pushups.”

Keep your feelings and opinions out of your research. Hypotheses should never say “I believe. ” “I think. ” “I feel. ” or “My opinion is that. “

Remember that science is not necessarily a linear process and can be approached in various ways. [7]

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How to write a hypothesis

Improve your research report and learn how to develop a precise and thorough hypothesis for your research.

A hypothesis is simply a testable statement to find an answer to a specific question; a formalized hypothesis forces the thought about what results to expect in an experiment. 

As a result, a hypothesis can be used for almost anything, such as testing different outcomes in daily tasks, identifying a possible ending in a research, forming the basis of a scientific experiment, and so on.

With this article, you will learn the reasoning behind it, the various types of hypotheses as well as how to write a hypothesis more clearly.

What is a hypothesis?

A hypothesis is a method of forecasting, an attempt to find an answer to something that has not yet been tested, an idea or a proposal based on limited evidence. 

In most cases, this entails proposing relationships between two variables (or more): the independent variable (the change made) and the dependent variable (the measure). For example, suppose you’re used to studying all night before a test, but you’re always too tired to understand the subject clearly, resulting in poor grades.

So, the hypothesis is that if you study during the day, you will understand the subject and, as a result, receive a good grade. In this example, the independent variable is the study time and the dependent variables are the understanding of the subject and the grade. 

As you can see, a hypothesis can be used in almost any situation, but it is most commonly found in research papers or scientific experiments. 

When writing a hypothesis, it is critical to be cautious and thorough before beginning to write it down. Because any hypothesis must be proven through facts, direct testing, and data evidence, even minor flaws or misunderstandings in hypothesis construction can have a negative impact on the quality of your research and its subsequent results. 

Types of Research Hypothesis and Examples

There are various types of hypotheses available depending on the nature or purpose of your hypothesis, whether it is for research or a scientific experiment. 

Before we get into how to write a hypothesis , let’s go over the different types to see which one is best for you. 

Simple Hypothesis

A simple hypothesis will only test and experiment with the relationship between two variables: the independent variable and the dependent one. As we priorly exemplified using study time and grades.

Complex Hypothesis

A more complex hypothesis involves a relationship between more than two variables, let’s say: two independent variables and one dependent variable or vice versa. 

Example: Higher the poverty, higher the illiteracy in society, higher will be the rate of crimes.

Null Hypothesis

A null hypothesis, abbreviated as H0, is one in which there is no relationship between the variables. 

For example, poverty has nothing to do with a society’s crime rate.

Alternative Hypothesis

In conjunction with a null hypothesis, an alternative hypothesis (H1 or HA) is used. It states the inverse of the null hypothesis, implying that only one must be true. 

For example, poverty is the cause of society’s crime rate .

Composite Hypothesis

A composite hypothesis is one that does not predict the dependent variable’s exact parameters, distribution, or range. 

We would frequently predict an exact outcome. “23-year-old men are on average 189cm tall,” for example. We are providing an exact parameter here. As a result, the hypothesis is not composite. 

However, we cannot always precisely hypothesize something. In these cases, we might say, “On average, 23-year-old men are not 189cm tall.” We have not established a distribution range or precise parameters for the average height of 23-year-old men. As a result, we’ve introduced a composite hypothesis rather than an exact hypothesis. 

An alternative hypothesis (as discussed above) is generally composite because it is defined as anything other than the null hypothesis. Because this ‘anything except’ does not specify parameters or distribution, it is an example of a composite hypothesis.

Logical Hypothesis

A hypothesis that can be verified logically is known as a logical hypothesis. So, without actual evidence, a logical hypothesis suggests a relationship between variables. 

Example: Alligators have green scales, therefore dinosaurs closely related to them most likely had green scales as well. However, because they are all extinct, we must rely on logic rather than empirical data.

Empirical Hypothesis

An empirical hypothesis is the inverse of a logical hypothesis. It is a hypothesis that is currently being tested through scientific investigation, it relies on concrete data. This is also known as a ‘working hypothesis.’

Example: Cows’ lifespan is reduced by feeding them 1 pound of corn per day.

Statistical Hypothesis

A statistical hypothesis uses representative statistical models to draw conclusions about larger populations. Instead of testing everything, you test a subset and generalize the rest based on previously collected data. 

Example: Natural red hair is found in about 2% of the world’s population.

Directional Hypothesis

A directional hypothesis predicts whether the effect of an intervention will be positive or negative before the test itself. 

Example: Does rainy weather impact the amount of moderate to high intensity exercise people do per week? Positively, rain reduces the amount of moderate to vigorous exercise people do per week.

How to write a hypothesis in six steps

1. ask a question.

Writing a hypothesis implies that you have a question to answer. The question should be direct, focused, and specific. To aid in identification, frame this question with the classic six: who, what, where, when, why, or how. But remember that a hypothesis must be a statement and not a question.

2. Gather primary research

Collecting background information on the topic may necessitate the reading of several books, academic journals, experiments, and observations, or it may be as simple as an internet search.

Remember to consider your questions from multiple perspectives; conflicting research can be extremely useful when developing a hypothesis; you can use their findings as potential rebuttals and frame your study to address these concerns.

3. Define your variables

Once you’ve determined what the question will be, you must identify the independent and dependent variables, as well as the type of hypothesis that applies.

4. Put it in the form of an if-then statement

When constructing a hypothesis, using an if-then format can be helpful. For example: “If I exercise more, I will lose more weight.” This format can be tricky when dealing with multiple variables, but in general, it’s a reliable way of expressing the cause-and-effect relationship you’re testing.

5. Collect more data to prove your hypothesis

The priority over a hypothesis is answering the question and proving it right or wrong. Once you’ve established your hypothesis and determined your variables, you can begin your experiments. Ideally, you’ll gather data to support your hypothesis.

6. Write it down

Finally, once you’ve written your hypothesis, analyze all of the data you’ve gathered and draw your conclusions in a research paper format.

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Scientific Method: Step 3: HYPOTHESIS

• Step 1: QUESTION
• Step 2: RESEARCH
• Step 3: HYPOTHESIS
• Step 4: EXPERIMENT
• Step 5: DATA
• Step 6: CONCLUSION

Step 3: State your hypothesis

Now it's time to state your hypothesis . The hypothesis is an educated guess as to what will happen during your experiment. 

The hypothesis is often written using the words "IF" and "THEN." For example, " If I do not study, then I will fail the test." The "if' and "then" statements reflect your independent and dependent variables . 

The hypothesis should relate back to your original question and must be testable .

A word about variables...

Your experiment will include variables to measure and to explain any cause and effect. Below you will find some useful links describing the different types of variables.

• "What are independent and dependent variables" NCES
• [VIDEO] Biology: Independent vs. Dependent Variables (Nucleus Medical Media) Video explaining independent and dependent variables, with examples.

Resource Links

• What is and How to Write a Good Hypothesis in Research? (Elsevier)
• Hypothesis brochure from Penn State/Berks

• << Previous: Step 2: RESEARCH
• Next: Step 4: EXPERIMENT >>
• Last Updated: May 9, 2024 10:59 AM
• URL: https://harford.libguides.com/scientific_method

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, what is a hypothesis and how do i write one.

General Education

Think about something strange and unexplainable in your life. Maybe you get a headache right before it rains, or maybe you think your favorite sports team wins when you wear a certain color. If you wanted to see whether these are just coincidences or scientific fact, you would form a hypothesis, then create an experiment to see whether that hypothesis is true or not.

But what is a hypothesis, anyway? If you’re not sure about what a hypothesis is--or how to test for one!--you’re in the right place. This article will teach you everything you need to know about hypotheses, including: 

• Defining the term “hypothesis” 
• Providing hypothesis examples 
• Giving you tips for how to write your own hypothesis

So let’s get started!

What Is a Hypothesis?

Merriam Webster defines a hypothesis as “an assumption or concession made for the sake of argument.” In other words, a hypothesis is an educated guess . Scientists make a reasonable assumption--or a hypothesis--then design an experiment to test whether it’s true or not. Keep in mind that in science, a hypothesis should be testable. You have to be able to design an experiment that tests your hypothesis in order for it to be valid. 

As you could assume from that statement, it’s easy to make a bad hypothesis. But when you’re holding an experiment, it’s even more important that your guesses be good...after all, you’re spending time (and maybe money!) to figure out more about your observation. That’s why we refer to a hypothesis as an educated guess--good hypotheses are based on existing data and research to make them as sound as possible.

Hypotheses are one part of what’s called the scientific method .  Every (good) experiment or study is based in the scientific method. The scientific method gives order and structure to experiments and ensures that interference from scientists or outside influences does not skew the results. It’s important that you understand the concepts of the scientific method before holding your own experiment. Though it may vary among scientists, the scientific method is generally made up of six steps (in order):

• Observation
• Asking questions
• Forming a hypothesis
• Analyze the data
• Communicate your results

You’ll notice that the hypothesis comes pretty early on when conducting an experiment. That’s because experiments work best when they’re trying to answer one specific question. And you can’t conduct an experiment until you know what you’re trying to prove!

Independent and Dependent Variables 

After doing your research, you’re ready for another important step in forming your hypothesis: identifying variables. Variables are basically any factor that could influence the outcome of your experiment . Variables have to be measurable and related to the topic being studied.

There are two types of variables:  independent variables and dependent variables. I ndependent variables remain constant . For example, age is an independent variable; it will stay the same, and researchers can look at different ages to see if it has an effect on the dependent variable. 

Speaking of dependent variables... dependent variables are subject to the influence of the independent variable , meaning that they are not constant. Let’s say you want to test whether a person’s age affects how much sleep they need. In that case, the independent variable is age (like we mentioned above), and the dependent variable is how much sleep a person gets. 

Variables will be crucial in writing your hypothesis. You need to be able to identify which variable is which, as both the independent and dependent variables will be written into your hypothesis. For instance, in a study about exercise, the independent variable might be the speed at which the respondents walk for thirty minutes, and the dependent variable would be their heart rate. In your study and in your hypothesis, you’re trying to understand the relationship between the two variables.

Elements of a Good Hypothesis

The best hypotheses start by asking the right questions . For instance, if you’ve observed that the grass is greener when it rains twice a week, you could ask what kind of grass it is, what elevation it’s at, and if the grass across the street responds to rain in the same way. Any of these questions could become the backbone of experiments to test why the grass gets greener when it rains fairly frequently.

As you’re asking more questions about your first observation, make sure you’re also making more observations . If it doesn’t rain for two weeks and the grass still looks green, that’s an important observation that could influence your hypothesis. You'll continue observing all throughout your experiment, but until the hypothesis is finalized, every observation should be noted.

Finally, you should consult secondary research before writing your hypothesis . Secondary research is comprised of results found and published by other people. You can usually find this information online or at your library. Additionally, m ake sure the research you find is credible and related to your topic. If you’re studying the correlation between rain and grass growth, it would help you to research rain patterns over the past twenty years for your county, published by a local agricultural association. You should also research the types of grass common in your area, the type of grass in your lawn, and whether anyone else has conducted experiments about your hypothesis. Also be sure you’re checking the quality of your research . Research done by a middle school student about what minerals can be found in rainwater would be less useful than an article published by a local university.

Writing Your Hypothesis

Once you’ve considered all of the factors above, you’re ready to start writing your hypothesis. Hypotheses usually take a certain form when they’re written out in a research report.

When you boil down your hypothesis statement, you are writing down your best guess and not the question at hand . This means that your statement should be written as if it is fact already, even though you are simply testing it.

The reason for this is that, after you have completed your study, you'll either accept or reject your if-then or your null hypothesis. All hypothesis testing examples should be measurable and able to be confirmed or denied. You cannot confirm a question, only a statement! 

In fact, you come up with hypothesis examples all the time! For instance, when you guess on the outcome of a basketball game, you don’t say, “Will the Miami Heat beat the Boston Celtics?” but instead, “I think the Miami Heat will beat the Boston Celtics.” You state it as if it is already true, even if it turns out you’re wrong. You do the same thing when writing your hypothesis.

Additionally, keep in mind that hypotheses can range from very specific to very broad.  These hypotheses can be specific, but if your hypothesis testing examples involve a broad range of causes and effects, your hypothesis can also be broad.  

The Two Types of Hypotheses

Now that you understand what goes into a hypothesis, it’s time to look more closely at the two most common types of hypothesis: the if-then hypothesis and the null hypothesis.

#1: If-Then Hypotheses

First of all, if-then hypotheses typically follow this formula:

If ____ happens, then ____ will happen.

The goal of this type of hypothesis is to test the causal relationship between the independent and dependent variable. It’s fairly simple, and each hypothesis can vary in how detailed it can be. We create if-then hypotheses all the time with our daily predictions. Here are some examples of hypotheses that use an if-then structure from daily life: 

• If I get enough sleep, I’ll be able to get more work done tomorrow.
• If the bus is on time, I can make it to my friend’s birthday party. 
• If I study every night this week, I’ll get a better grade on my exam. 

In each of these situations, you’re making a guess on how an independent variable (sleep, time, or studying) will affect a dependent variable (the amount of work you can do, making it to a party on time, or getting better grades). 

You may still be asking, “What is an example of a hypothesis used in scientific research?” Take one of the hypothesis examples from a real-world study on whether using technology before bed affects children’s sleep patterns. The hypothesis read s:

“We hypothesized that increased hours of tablet- and phone-based screen time at bedtime would be inversely correlated with sleep quality and child attention.”

It might not look like it, but this is an if-then statement. The researchers basically said, “If children have more screen usage at bedtime, then their quality of sleep and attention will be worse.” The sleep quality and attention are the dependent variables and the screen usage is the independent variable. (Usually, the independent variable comes after the “if” and the dependent variable comes after the “then,” as it is the independent variable that affects the dependent variable.) This is an excellent example of how flexible hypothesis statements can be, as long as the general idea of “if-then” and the independent and dependent variables are present.

#2: Null Hypotheses

Your if-then hypothesis is not the only one needed to complete a successful experiment, however. You also need a null hypothesis to test it against. In its most basic form, the null hypothesis is the opposite of your if-then hypothesis . When you write your null hypothesis, you are writing a hypothesis that suggests that your guess is not true, and that the independent and dependent variables have no relationship .

One null hypothesis for the cell phone and sleep study from the last section might say: 

“If children have more screen usage at bedtime, their quality of sleep and attention will not be worse.” 

In this case, this is a null hypothesis because it’s asking the opposite of the original thesis! 

Conversely, if your if-then hypothesis suggests that your two variables have no relationship, then your null hypothesis would suggest that there is one. So, pretend that there is a study that is asking the question, “Does the amount of followers on Instagram influence how long people spend on the app?” The independent variable is the amount of followers, and the dependent variable is the time spent. But if you, as the researcher, don’t think there is a relationship between the number of followers and time spent, you might write an if-then hypothesis that reads:

“If people have many followers on Instagram, they will not spend more time on the app than people who have less.”

In this case, the if-then suggests there isn’t a relationship between the variables. In that case, one of the null hypothesis examples might say:

“If people have many followers on Instagram, they will spend more time on the app than people who have less.”

You then test both the if-then and the null hypothesis to gauge if there is a relationship between the variables, and if so, how much of a relationship. 

4 Tips to Write the Best Hypothesis

If you’re going to take the time to hold an experiment, whether in school or by yourself, you’re also going to want to take the time to make sure your hypothesis is a good one. The best hypotheses have four major elements in common: plausibility, defined concepts, observability, and general explanation.

#1: Plausibility

At first glance, this quality of a hypothesis might seem obvious. When your hypothesis is plausible, that means it’s possible given what we know about science and general common sense. However, improbable hypotheses are more common than you might think. 

Imagine you’re studying weight gain and television watching habits. If you hypothesize that people who watch more than  twenty hours of television a week will gain two hundred pounds or more over the course of a year, this might be improbable (though it’s potentially possible). Consequently, c ommon sense can tell us the results of the study before the study even begins.

Improbable hypotheses generally go against  science, as well. Take this hypothesis example: 

“If a person smokes one cigarette a day, then they will have lungs just as healthy as the average person’s.” 

This hypothesis is obviously untrue, as studies have shown again and again that cigarettes negatively affect lung health. You must be careful that your hypotheses do not reflect your own personal opinion more than they do scientifically-supported findings. This plausibility points to the necessity of research before the hypothesis is written to make sure that your hypothesis has not already been disproven.

#2: Defined Concepts

The more advanced you are in your studies, the more likely that the terms you’re using in your hypothesis are specific to a limited set of knowledge. One of the hypothesis testing examples might include the readability of printed text in newspapers, where you might use words like “kerning” and “x-height.” Unless your readers have a background in graphic design, it’s likely that they won’t know what you mean by these terms. Thus, it’s important to either write what they mean in the hypothesis itself or in the report before the hypothesis.

Here’s what we mean. Which of the following sentences makes more sense to the common person?

If the kerning is greater than average, more words will be read per minute.

If the space between letters is greater than average, more words will be read per minute.

For people reading your report that are not experts in typography, simply adding a few more words will be helpful in clarifying exactly what the experiment is all about. It’s always a good idea to make your research and findings as accessible as possible. 

Good hypotheses ensure that you can observe the results. 

#3: Observability

In order to measure the truth or falsity of your hypothesis, you must be able to see your variables and the way they interact. For instance, if your hypothesis is that the flight patterns of satellites affect the strength of certain television signals, yet you don’t have a telescope to view the satellites or a television to monitor the signal strength, you cannot properly observe your hypothesis and thus cannot continue your study.

Some variables may seem easy to observe, but if you do not have a system of measurement in place, you cannot observe your hypothesis properly. Here’s an example: if you’re experimenting on the effect of healthy food on overall happiness, but you don’t have a way to monitor and measure what “overall happiness” means, your results will not reflect the truth. Monitoring how often someone smiles for a whole day is not reasonably observable, but having the participants state how happy they feel on a scale of one to ten is more observable. 

In writing your hypothesis, always keep in mind how you'll execute the experiment.

#4: Generalizability 

Perhaps you’d like to study what color your best friend wears the most often by observing and documenting the colors she wears each day of the week. This might be fun information for her and you to know, but beyond you two, there aren’t many people who could benefit from this experiment. When you start an experiment, you should note how generalizable your findings may be if they are confirmed. Generalizability is basically how common a particular phenomenon is to other people’s everyday life.

Let’s say you’re asking a question about the health benefits of eating an apple for one day only, you need to realize that the experiment may be too specific to be helpful. It does not help to explain a phenomenon that many people experience. If you find yourself with too specific of a hypothesis, go back to asking the big question: what is it that you want to know, and what do you think will happen between your two variables?

Hypothesis Testing Examples

We know it can be hard to write a good hypothesis unless you’ve seen some good hypothesis examples. We’ve included four hypothesis examples based on some made-up experiments. Use these as templates or launch pads for coming up with your own hypotheses.

Experiment #1: Students Studying Outside (Writing a Hypothesis)

You are a student at PrepScholar University. When you walk around campus, you notice that, when the temperature is above 60 degrees, more students study in the quad. You want to know when your fellow students are more likely to study outside. With this information, how do you make the best hypothesis possible?

You must remember to make additional observations and do secondary research before writing your hypothesis. In doing so, you notice that no one studies outside when it’s 75 degrees and raining, so this should be included in your experiment. Also, studies done on the topic beforehand suggested that students are more likely to study in temperatures less than 85 degrees. With this in mind, you feel confident that you can identify your variables and write your hypotheses:

If-then: “If the temperature in Fahrenheit is less than 60 degrees, significantly fewer students will study outside.”

Null: “If the temperature in Fahrenheit is less than 60 degrees, the same number of students will study outside as when it is more than 60 degrees.”

These hypotheses are plausible, as the temperatures are reasonably within the bounds of what is possible. The number of people in the quad is also easily observable. It is also not a phenomenon specific to only one person or at one time, but instead can explain a phenomenon for a broader group of people.

To complete this experiment, you pick the month of October to observe the quad. Every day (except on the days where it’s raining)from 3 to 4 PM, when most classes have released for the day, you observe how many people are on the quad. You measure how many people come  and how many leave. You also write down the temperature on the hour. 

After writing down all of your observations and putting them on a graph, you find that the most students study on the quad when it is 70 degrees outside, and that the number of students drops a lot once the temperature reaches 60 degrees or below. In this case, your research report would state that you accept or “failed to reject” your first hypothesis with your findings.

Experiment #2: The Cupcake Store (Forming a Simple Experiment)

Let’s say that you work at a bakery. You specialize in cupcakes, and you make only two colors of frosting: yellow and purple. You want to know what kind of customers are more likely to buy what kind of cupcake, so you set up an experiment. Your independent variable is the customer’s gender, and the dependent variable is the color of the frosting. What is an example of a hypothesis that might answer the question of this study?

Here’s what your hypotheses might look like: 

If-then: “If customers’ gender is female, then they will buy more yellow cupcakes than purple cupcakes.”

Null: “If customers’ gender is female, then they will be just as likely to buy purple cupcakes as yellow cupcakes.”

This is a pretty simple experiment! It passes the test of plausibility (there could easily be a difference), defined concepts (there’s nothing complicated about cupcakes!), observability (both color and gender can be easily observed), and general explanation ( this would potentially help you make better business decisions ).

Experiment #3: Backyard Bird Feeders (Integrating Multiple Variables and Rejecting the If-Then Hypothesis)

While watching your backyard bird feeder, you realized that different birds come on the days when you change the types of seeds. You decide that you want to see more cardinals in your backyard, so you decide to see what type of food they like the best and set up an experiment. 

However, one morning, you notice that, while some cardinals are present, blue jays are eating out of your backyard feeder filled with millet. You decide that, of all of the other birds, you would like to see the blue jays the least. This means you'll have more than one variable in your hypothesis. Your new hypotheses might look like this: 

If-then: “If sunflower seeds are placed in the bird feeders, then more cardinals will come than blue jays. If millet is placed in the bird feeders, then more blue jays will come than cardinals.”

Null: “If either sunflower seeds or millet are placed in the bird, equal numbers of cardinals and blue jays will come.”

Through simple observation, you actually find that cardinals come as often as blue jays when sunflower seeds or millet is in the bird feeder. In this case, you would reject your “if-then” hypothesis and “fail to reject” your null hypothesis . You cannot accept your first hypothesis, because it’s clearly not true. Instead you found that there was actually no relation between your different variables. Consequently, you would need to run more experiments with different variables to see if the new variables impact the results.

Experiment #4: In-Class Survey (Including an Alternative Hypothesis)

You’re about to give a speech in one of your classes about the importance of paying attention. You want to take this opportunity to test a hypothesis you’ve had for a while: 

If-then: If students sit in the first two rows of the classroom, then they will listen better than students who do not.

Null: If students sit in the first two rows of the classroom, then they will not listen better or worse than students who do not.

You give your speech and then ask your teacher if you can hand out a short survey to the class. On the survey, you’ve included questions about some of the topics you talked about. When you get back the results, you’re surprised to see that not only do the students in the first two rows not pay better attention, but they also scored worse than students in other parts of the classroom! Here, both your if-then and your null hypotheses are not representative of your findings. What do you do?

This is when you reject both your if-then and null hypotheses and instead create an alternative hypothesis . This type of hypothesis is used in the rare circumstance that neither of your hypotheses is able to capture your findings . Now you can use what you’ve learned to draft new hypotheses and test again! 

Key Takeaways: Hypothesis Writing

The more comfortable you become with writing hypotheses, the better they will become. The structure of hypotheses is flexible and may need to be changed depending on what topic you are studying. The most important thing to remember is the purpose of your hypothesis and the difference between the if-then and the null . From there, in forming your hypothesis, you should constantly be asking questions, making observations, doing secondary research, and considering your variables. After you have written your hypothesis, be sure to edit it so that it is plausible, clearly defined, observable, and helpful in explaining a general phenomenon.

Writing a hypothesis is something that everyone, from elementary school children competing in a science fair to professional scientists in a lab, needs to know how to do. Hypotheses are vital in experiments and in properly executing the scientific method . When done correctly, hypotheses will set up your studies for success and help you to understand the world a little better, one experiment at a time.

What’s Next?

If you’re studying for the science portion of the ACT, there’s definitely a lot you need to know. We’ve got the tools to help, though! Start by checking out our ultimate study guide for the ACT Science subject test. Once you read through that, be sure to download our recommended ACT Science practice tests , since they’re one of the most foolproof ways to improve your score. (And don’t forget to check out our expert guide book , too.)

If you love science and want to major in a scientific field, you should start preparing in high school . Here are the science classes you should take to set yourself up for success.

If you’re trying to think of science experiments you can do for class (or for a science fair!), here’s a list of 37 awesome science experiments you can do at home

Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

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What Is a Hypothesis? (Science)

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A hypothesis (plural hypotheses) is a proposed explanation for an observation. The definition depends on the subject.

In science, a hypothesis is part of the scientific method. It is a prediction or explanation that is tested by an experiment. Observations and experiments may disprove a scientific hypothesis, but can never entirely prove one.

In the study of logic, a hypothesis is an if-then proposition, typically written in the form, "If X , then Y ."

In common usage, a hypothesis is simply a proposed explanation or prediction, which may or may not be tested.

Writing a Hypothesis

Most scientific hypotheses are proposed in the if-then format because it's easy to design an experiment to see whether or not a cause and effect relationship exists between the independent variable and the dependent variable . The hypothesis is written as a prediction of the outcome of the experiment.

• Null Hypothesis and Alternative Hypothesis

Statistically, it's easier to show there is no relationship between two variables than to support their connection. So, scientists often propose the null hypothesis . The null hypothesis assumes changing the independent variable will have no effect on the dependent variable.

In contrast, the alternative hypothesis suggests changing the independent variable will have an effect on the dependent variable. Designing an experiment to test this hypothesis can be trickier because there are many ways to state an alternative hypothesis.

For example, consider a possible relationship between getting a good night's sleep and getting good grades. The null hypothesis might be stated: "The number of hours of sleep students get is unrelated to their grades" or "There is no correlation between hours of sleep and grades."

An experiment to test this hypothesis might involve collecting data, recording average hours of sleep for each student and grades. If a student who gets eight hours of sleep generally does better than students who get four hours of sleep or 10 hours of sleep, the hypothesis might be rejected.

But the alternative hypothesis is harder to propose and test. The most general statement would be: "The amount of sleep students get affects their grades." The hypothesis might also be stated as "If you get more sleep, your grades will improve" or "Students who get nine hours of sleep have better grades than those who get more or less sleep."

In an experiment, you can collect the same data, but the statistical analysis is less likely to give you a high confidence limit.

Usually, a scientist starts out with the null hypothesis. From there, it may be possible to propose and test an alternative hypothesis, to narrow down the relationship between the variables.

Example of a Hypothesis

Examples of a hypothesis include:

• If you drop a rock and a feather, (then) they will fall at the same rate.
• Plants need sunlight in order to live. (if sunlight, then life)
• Eating sugar gives you energy. (if sugar, then energy)
• White, Jay D.  Research in Public Administration . Conn., 1998.
• Schick, Theodore, and Lewis Vaughn.  How to Think about Weird Things: Critical Thinking for a New Age . McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2002.
• Null Hypothesis Definition and Examples
• Definition of a Hypothesis
• What Are the Elements of a Good Hypothesis?
• Six Steps of the Scientific Method
• Independent Variable Definition and Examples
• What Are Examples of a Hypothesis?
• Understanding Simple vs Controlled Experiments
• Scientific Method Flow Chart
• Scientific Method Vocabulary Terms
• What Is a Testable Hypothesis?
• Null Hypothesis Examples
• What 'Fail to Reject' Means in a Hypothesis Test
• How To Design a Science Fair Experiment
• What Is an Experiment? Definition and Design
• Hypothesis Test for the Difference of Two Population Proportions

• 2018/03/28/How-to-write-a-hypothesis

How to write a hypothesis

This is a sticking point for many students. We are used to using and writing questions and statements in day to day communications, as well as reading popular media. But hypotheses (the plural of hypothesis) only rarely float across our desks. So how do we write one, and how do we know if our hypothesis is good?

Although I’m going to write about what I think, there is already some good information out there on the web, and it’s worth looking at this too: (e.g. Wikihow , Wikipedia , etc.). There’s also some dodgy stuff, so read critically.

What is a hypothesis?

A hypothesis is a statement of your research intent. It tells the reader (because just like all of your other written work, it has an audience who reads it), what you planned to do in your research. But there’s a little more to it than this. The hypothesis becomes a part of the scientific method if it is testable, and informed from previous published work on the subject.

Yes, your hypothesis must  be informed by the literature, which is why you spent so much time and effort crafting your introduction to inform your reader of the same. This is also why your hypothesis usually comes at the end of your introduction, because you spend all of the introduction telling your reader about it (see blog entry here ). There’s not much point in writing more after the hypothesis, because once your reader has read that, they are ready to learn about how you went about testing it (in the Materials & Methods). The other important point to make is that the literature should dictate how you write your hypothesis, and the variables that you include. If, for example, you know that temperature is the most important variable but all of the literature suggests that it is oxygen, you can’t ignore oxygen and you should also frame your hypothesis using this variable (you can have more than one hypothesis after all!). In this case, you will also need to provide a sufficient introduction to temperature as a variable to justify its inclusion in your hypothesis. Perversely, your aim is not to prove that your idea is right, but to show that the hypothesis is wrong.

We usually try to write a hypothesis that is falsifiable: i.e. you can prove (usually using statistical tests) that it is not correct (or at least show that the likelihood that it is correct is very low). That’s why it is conventional to provide the ‘Null hypothesis’ that is the falsified version of the statement, suggesting that there is no relationship between the variables you have proposed to measure. The convention is to label this H 0 , while the ‘alternative hypothesis’ (the one that says your variables are related as you suggested) is written as H 1 . You can write you alternative hypothesis to show the directionality of your tested variables, or simply that there is a relationship.

Most importantly, your hypothesis must come first, before you do the experiment or study! Setting the hypothesis after the work is already done is fraudulent, and goes against the scientific method. Obviously, it isn’t fair to pose the hypothesis once you already know the answer. This is why there is so much emphasis put on formulating your hypothesis during your research proposal. Getting it right will determine what you do and how you test it. If you think of an extra hypothesis that would be really useful to test once you’ve already done your study, you can conduct a post hoc test, but this should have more stringent levels of statistical assessment.

Writing a hypothesis isn’t easy, but it is essential and once you’ve understood what to do, most of the rest of what you are writing for should make sense.

What a hypothesis isn’t

It is not a question and so should never have a question mark after it.

It isn’t really a simple prediction: if this then that. You will see many times on the internet that hypotheses are explained in this simple predictive framework. I say that it isn't ' really ' a simple prediction because these are not good hypotheses. They lack the mechanistic and scholarly aspect of a good hypothesis, which is what we want to achieve.

A formulaic way to start writing your hypothesis: “ If… then… because… ”

Above, I emphasised that you must have introduced all the variables that you plan to use to test your hypothesis in your introduction. This usually comes in the second paragraph ( see blog entry here ), where you emphasise the utility of the dependent variable/s (what you are planning to measure) and your independent variable (what you will manipulate). Both of these variables should then feature in your hypothesis. Next, by paragraph four you will have identified the problem that you are interested in tackling. In addition, your introduction will provide all of the pertinent literature that has relevance to this hypothesis, giving the all important context.

A simple way to consider making your hypothesis is to adopt an “ If… then… because… ” construction where you add in your problem statement using your independent variable after ‘ if ’ and your prediction using your dependent variable after ‘ then ’, and finally the expected mechanism after ‘ because ’. Using our example above with the “If… then… because…” construction, we would say: “ If environmental temperatures in which tadpoles develop are increased then tadpole development rate is faster because they follow the classic metabolism of ectotherms”. Both independent variable (temperature) and dependent variable (tadpole development rate) are present in this hypothesis, and the predicted relationship between them is clear. In addition, the causal mechanism is stated. You can watch a video about using the “If… then… because…” construction here , or read more here . I say that this is a formulaic way to start writing your hypothesis, because it usually ends up as an inelegant statement, which can be better refined for a reader. A citation for your stated mechanism might also help clarify exactly where the justification for this comes from.

A good hypothesis will often take an existing hypothesis further, to try to better refine the knowledge on a subject. Hence, it is perfectly acceptable to state that you are building on existing hypotheses (and giving the appropriate statement) when making your own.

How to evaluate your hypothesis

Once you’ve written your hypothesis, how do you decide whether or not it is good? To do this, you might think that you need plenty of experience (and yes, that does help). But really, you just need to look for the elements that are discussed above. So once you’ve written your hypothesis, try to objectively answer the questions below (for more see Bartos 1992 and here ):

• Is there a clear prediction (if… then… statement)?
• Does the prediction use independent and dependent variables correctly?
• Is the mechanism supported by the literature?
• Is the hypothesis testable/falsifiable?
• Does the hypothesis use concise wording and precise terminology?

If your hypothesis meets all of the criteria above, then you’ve done a good job!

Hypothesis Maker Online

Looking for a hypothesis maker? This online tool for students will help you formulate a beautiful hypothesis quickly, efficiently, and for free.

Are you looking for an effective hypothesis maker online? Worry no more; try our online tool for students and formulate your hypothesis within no time.

• 🔎 How to Use the Tool?
• ⚗️ What Is a Hypothesis in Science?

👍 What Does a Good Hypothesis Mean?

• 🧭 Steps to Making a Good Hypothesis

🔗 References

📄 hypothesis maker: how to use it.

Our hypothesis maker is a simple and efficient tool you can access online for free.

If you want to create a research hypothesis quickly, you should fill out the research details in the given fields on the hypothesis generator.

Below are the fields you should complete to generate your hypothesis:

• Who or what is your research based on? For instance, the subject can be research group 1.
• What does the subject (research group 1) do?
• What does the subject affect? - This shows the predicted outcome, which is the object.
• Who or what will be compared with research group 1? (research group 2).

Once you fill the in the fields, you can click the ‘Make a hypothesis’ tab and get your results.

⚗️ What Is a Hypothesis in the Scientific Method?

A hypothesis is a statement describing an expectation or prediction of your research through observation.

It is similar to academic speculation and reasoning that discloses the outcome of your scientific test . An effective hypothesis, therefore, should be crafted carefully and with precision.

A good hypothesis should have dependent and independent variables . These variables are the elements you will test in your research method – it can be a concept, an event, or an object as long as it is observable.

You can observe the dependent variables while the independent variables keep changing during the experiment.

In a nutshell, a hypothesis directs and organizes the research methods you will use, forming a large section of research paper writing.

Hypothesis vs. Theory

A hypothesis is a realistic expectation that researchers make before any investigation. It is formulated and tested to prove whether the statement is true. A theory, on the other hand, is a factual principle supported by evidence. Thus, a theory is more fact-backed compared to a hypothesis.

Another difference is that a hypothesis is presented as a single statement , while a theory can be an assortment of things . Hypotheses are based on future possibilities toward a specific projection, but the results are uncertain. Theories are verified with undisputable results because of proper substantiation.

When it comes to data, a hypothesis relies on limited information , while a theory is established on an extensive data set tested on various conditions.

You should observe the stated assumption to prove its accuracy.

Since hypotheses have observable variables, their outcome is usually based on a specific occurrence. Conversely, theories are grounded on a general principle involving multiple experiments and research tests.

This general principle can apply to many specific cases.

The primary purpose of formulating a hypothesis is to present a tentative prediction for researchers to explore further through tests and observations. Theories, in their turn, aim to explain plausible occurrences in the form of a scientific study.

It would help to rely on several criteria to establish a good hypothesis. Below are the parameters you should use to analyze the quality of your hypothesis.

🧭 6 Steps to Making a Good Hypothesis

Writing a hypothesis becomes way simpler if you follow a tried-and-tested algorithm. Let’s explore how you can formulate a good hypothesis in a few steps:

Step #1: Ask Questions

The first step in hypothesis creation is asking real questions about the surrounding reality.

Why do things happen as they do? What are the causes of some occurrences?

Your curiosity will trigger great questions that you can use to formulate a stellar hypothesis. So, ensure you pick a research topic of interest to scrutinize the world’s phenomena, processes, and events.

Step #2: Do Initial Research

Carry out preliminary research and gather essential background information about your topic of choice.

The extent of the information you collect will depend on what you want to prove.

Your initial research can be complete with a few academic books or a simple Internet search for quick answers with relevant statistics.

Still, keep in mind that in this phase, it is too early to prove or disapprove of your hypothesis.

Step #3: Identify Your Variables

Now that you have a basic understanding of the topic, choose the dependent and independent variables.

Take note that independent variables are the ones you can’t control, so understand the limitations of your test before settling on a final hypothesis.

Step #4: Formulate Your Hypothesis

You can write your hypothesis as an ‘if – then’ expression . Presenting any hypothesis in this format is reliable since it describes the cause-and-effect you want to test.

For instance: If I study every day, then I will get good grades.

Step #5: Gather Relevant Data

Once you have identified your variables and formulated the hypothesis, you can start the experiment. Remember, the conclusion you make will be a proof or rebuttal of your initial assumption.

So, gather relevant information, whether for a simple or statistical hypothesis, because you need to back your statement.

Step #6: Record Your Findings

Finally, write down your conclusions in a research paper .

Outline in detail whether the test has proved or disproved your hypothesis.

Edit and proofread your work, using a plagiarism checker to ensure the authenticity of your text.

We hope that the above tips will be useful for you. Note that if you need to conduct business analysis, you can use the free templates we’ve prepared: SWOT , PESTLE , VRIO , SOAR , and Porter’s 5 Forces .

❓ Hypothesis Formulator FAQ

Updated: Oct 25th, 2023

• How to Write a Hypothesis in 6 Steps - Grammarly
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• The Hypothesis in Science Writing
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Use our hypothesis maker whenever you need to formulate a hypothesis for your study. We offer a very simple tool where you just need to provide basic info about your variables, subjects, and predicted outcomes. The rest is on us. Get a perfect hypothesis in no time!

The Scientific Method Lesson Plan: Developing Hypotheses

Submitted by: charlie conway.

This is a lesson plan designed to be incorporated into a elementary or middle school general science class. Using BrainPOP and its resources, students will be introduced (or further exposed) to the steps necessary to undertake scientific experimentation leading (perhaps) to a Science Fair project. The Scientific Method is a core structure in learning about scientific inquiry, and although there are many variations of this set of procedures, they all usually have similar components. This lesson should take 45-60 minutes, with opportunities for extending the lesson further.

Students will:

• Students will use BrainPOP features to build their understandings of the Scientific Method.
• Students will learn how to identify and write effective hypotheses.
• Students will use game play to write an appropriate hypothesis for an experiment.
• Students will identify and utilize the tools necessary to design a scientific investigation.
• Laptops/Computers
• Interactive White Board
• Pencil/Paper
• Class set of photocopies of the Scientific Method Flow Chart
• BrainPOP accounts (optional)

Vocabulary:

Preparation:.

These procedures may be modified according to the needs/resources of each teacher & class. For example, you may decide to do the quiz with pencil/paper, or do the quiz as a class.

Lesson Procedure:

• Ask the students how scientists answer questions and solve problems. Take a few minutes to explore students' prior knowledge with a short discussion.
• Tell the class that you're going to watch a BrainPOP movie about answering a scientific question about plant growth.
• Show the BrainPOP movie on the Scientific Method two times. The first time, students should just watch and listen. The second time they should take notes. Pause the movie at critical STOP points.
• Students should log on to their individual student accounts and take the Scientific Method Quiz to give the teacher some immediate feedback. (This can also be done as a pre-assessment, or at the very end of the lesson). NOTE: If you choose to, you can give a pencil/paper quiz also; students who work best with electronic media can be given accommodations). If you don't have access to individual student logins via MyBrainPOP (a school subscription), students can take the Review Quiz or paper quiz instead.
• Discuss the main points from the movie: a. Write the definition of the scientific method: the procedure scientists use to help explain why things happen. b. Make a list on the board of the steps mentioned as part of the scientific method: problem, fact finding, observation, inference, hypothesis, experiment, conclusions. c. Tell students that there are various versions of the scientific method that they may see, but they are all basically the same.
• Hand out the Scientific Method Flow Chart . Introduce the "If...then...because..." format for writing hypotheses. Give the students 10 minutes to complete the sheet with their group. They may use their notes from the movie to help them, and/or work collaboratively with other students.
• Discuss some of the student responses in class. Focus on the hypotheses, and explain that a good hypothesis is a testable explanation of the problem. For example, a good hypothesis to the third problem would be, "If I move farther away from the microwave oven, then the cell phone signal will improve because I am further away from the source of interference." Show how this is a TESTABLE hypothesis that can lead to a scientific experiment.
• Introduce the students to the Pavlov’s Dog game in GameUP. Allow time for the kids to explore the game without telling them why they are playing it.
• After 10-15 minutes, have the students take a break from playing, and have a short discussion about the game. Ask if anyone was able to complete the task successfully, and have them share how they got the "diploma." If time allows, show the students how to complete the task so that they all understand that the dog has been conditioned to respond to a stimulus (noise before food has been introduced).
• Have the students write a hypothesis that Pavlov may have written before he started his experiment. Students can either do this with pencil/paper, or the teacher may create a BrainPOP quiz and have students submit their hypothesis electronically. This may be used as a part of the assessment.
• Choose some sample responses from the students, highlighting the hypotheses that are TESTABLE, and not just guesses or predictions.

If this lesson is an introduction to allowing students to plan and carry out their own experiments, then all that follows is naturally an extension to the lesson.

Other, shorter extensions are easy to develop as well.

Extension Activities:

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