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When carrying out an investigation or experiment, the researcher follows a certain methodology to ensure that his results are acceptable to the scientific community, that they can be replicated under certain conditions, and that they also contribute to the generation of knowledge.
After having defined his object of study and after choosing the background that will support his research, the professional then formulates one or several hypotheses about the results that can be obtained after carrying out the experiment. We then have three fundamental elements in the scientific method: observation, formulation of the hypothesis and verification .
The formulation of one or several hypotheses and their subsequent acceptance or rejection are fundamental pieces in the generation of scientific knowledge. Without these pillars, research papers would only be descriptive.
the null hypothesis
The null hypothesis is one in which the opposite of the expected conclusion is stated . In other words, it is the hypothesis that the researcher must reject through his own experimentation, in order to confirm the really expected hypothesis.
For example, if you want to prove that a certain fertilizer has an effect on a crop, the null hypothesis will establish that “the fertilizer has NO effect on the crop.” In another example, if you want to verify that the monthly salary of the inhabitants of a region is $1,500, the null hypothesis would say that “the monthly salary of the inhabitants is different from $1,500”.
alternative hypothesis
The alternative hypothesis works in conjunction with the null, and refers to the conclusion that the researcher wishes to prove or confirm. Continuing with the previous ideas, the hypotheses of both examples would be as follows:
Example 1
H0 (NULL hypothesis)= the fertilizer has NO effect on the crop
H1 (ALTERNATIVE hypothesis)= the fertilizer DOES have an effect on the crop
Example 2
H0= the monthly salary of the inhabitants is different from $1,500
H1= the monthly salary of the inhabitants is $1,500
Thus, to study a specific element, we start from the study and the verification or rejection of its opposite, that is, the null hypothesis. If we can show that the null hypothesis is false, we will have confirmed the alternative hypothesis.
Characteristics of hypothesis formulation
- 1.- It must not contain ambiguous words.
- 2.-The terms must be able to support operations.
- 3.- Abstract terms are not taken into account.
- 4.- It should be formulated as far as possible in a quantitative way.
- 5.- A simple sentence must be used to formulate it.
- 6.- The causal hypothesis should only contain two variables.
- 7.- It must not be tautological (that is, be based on itself or on any of its elements).
- 8.- It must be based on proven knowledge.
- 9. It must refer to aspects not investigated.
- 10.- It must be perfectable over time.
References
Dessol (s/f). Null hypothesis. Available at: https://www.sdelsol.com/glosario/hipotesis-nula/
Huertas, D. (2002). The formulation of hypotheses. Available at: http://www.ub.edu/histodidactica/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25:la-formulacion-de-hipotesis&catid=11&Itemid=103
Marco, F. (2021). Null hypothesis. Available at: https://economipedia.com/definiciones/hipotesis-nula.html
