Hypothesis as an Essential Element of Scientific Research Methodology

Abstract

The article reveals the essence of the concept of hypothesis and the differences between hypothesis and prediction, where predictions are often seen as predictions, and the hypothesis as a reasonable assumption, tested and confirmed by research. Its characteristics are formed: it should be simple but clear to look reliable and justified enough; should be written in an explanatory form and should preserve and reflect the space for further research and experimentation. Identified sources that can be referred to when creating a hypothesis for research: research papers and theories on the subject, observations from previous experiments and recent theories, general paradigms that run through the field of research on a particular topic, similarities and relativity between different research topics. Formulated types of hypotheses: an alternative hypothesis with two subcategories, which include directed, used in cases where you want to establish a relationship between different variables, and without direction, undirected, alternative hypothesis, which does not provide any direction for the expected results; null hypothesis, which determines the opposite of the expected results or results throughout the study; a simple hypothesis that reflects the relationship between dependent and independent variables; complex hypothesis, which assumes the relationship between several dependent or independent variables set out in the research problem; empirical hypothesis, which is a "working hypothesis" and is tested by experiment and observation; statistical hypothesis which is explained after studying the sample of the population. The identified steps to create a convincing hypothesis argue that it is necessary to identify and clearly describe the research question, conduct a primary, preliminary study, draft the first hypothesis, revise the hypothesis, create a three-dimensional phrase hypothesis, create a null hypothesis.