Synonyms of hypothesis

  • as in theory
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Thesaurus Definition of hypothesis

Synonyms & Similar Words

  • proposition
  • supposition
  • speculation
  • presumption
  • generalization
  • presupposition
  • abstraction

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How does the noun hypothesis differ from other similar words?

The words law and theory are common synonyms of hypothesis . While all three words mean "a formula derived by inference from scientific data that explains a principle operating in nature," hypothesis implies insufficient evidence to provide more than a tentative explanation.

When can law be used instead of hypothesis ?

The synonyms law and hypothesis are sometimes interchangeable, but law implies a statement of order and relation in nature that has been found to be invariable under the same conditions.

In what contexts can theory take the place of hypothesis ?

The words theory and hypothesis can be used in similar contexts, but theory implies a greater range of evidence and greater likelihood of truth.

Articles Related to hypothesis

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This is the Difference Between a...

This is the Difference Between a Hypothesis and a Theory

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Cite this Entry

“Hypothesis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hypothesis. Accessed 24 Mar. 2024.

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Definition of hypothesis noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

  • formulate/advance a theory/hypothesis
  • build/construct/create/develop a simple/theoretical/mathematical model
  • develop/establish/provide/use a theoretical/conceptual framework/an algorithm
  • advance/argue/develop the thesis that…
  • explore an idea/a concept/a hypothesis
  • make a prediction/an inference
  • base a prediction/your calculations on something
  • investigate/evaluate/accept/challenge/reject a theory/hypothesis/model
  • design an experiment/a questionnaire/a study/a test
  • do research/an experiment/an analysis
  • make observations/calculations
  • take/record measurements
  • carry out/conduct/perform an experiment/a test/a longitudinal study/observations/clinical trials
  • run an experiment/a simulation/clinical trials
  • repeat an experiment/a test/an analysis
  • replicate a study/the results/the findings
  • observe/study/examine/investigate/assess a pattern/a process/a behavior
  • fund/support the research/project/study
  • seek/provide/get/secure funding for research
  • collect/gather/extract data/information
  • yield data/evidence/similar findings/the same results
  • analyze/examine the data/soil samples/a specimen
  • consider/compare/interpret the results/findings
  • fit the data/model
  • confirm/support/verify a prediction/a hypothesis/the results/the findings
  • prove a conjecture/hypothesis/theorem
  • draw/make/reach the same conclusions
  • read/review the records/literature
  • describe/report an experiment/a study
  • present/publish/summarize the results/findings
  • present/publish/read/review/cite a paper in a scientific journal

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hypothesis words mean

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Words Starting With

Words ending with, unscrambles, words starting with h and ending with s, word length, words near hypothesis in the dictionary.

  • hypothenusal
  • hypothenuse
  • hypothermal
  • hypothermia
  • hypothermic
  • hypothesise
  • hypothesised
  • hypothesises
  • hypothesising
  • hypothesize

Grad Coach

What Is A Research (Scientific) Hypothesis? A plain-language explainer + examples

By:  Derek Jansen (MBA)  | Reviewed By: Dr Eunice Rautenbach | June 2020

If you’re new to the world of research, or it’s your first time writing a dissertation or thesis, you’re probably noticing that the words “research hypothesis” and “scientific hypothesis” are used quite a bit, and you’re wondering what they mean in a research context .

“Hypothesis” is one of those words that people use loosely, thinking they understand what it means. However, it has a very specific meaning within academic research. So, it’s important to understand the exact meaning before you start hypothesizing. 

Research Hypothesis 101

  • What is a hypothesis ?
  • What is a research hypothesis (scientific hypothesis)?
  • Requirements for a research hypothesis
  • Definition of a research hypothesis
  • The null hypothesis

What is a hypothesis?

Let’s start with the general definition of a hypothesis (not a research hypothesis or scientific hypothesis), according to the Cambridge Dictionary:

Hypothesis: an idea or explanation for something that is based on known facts but has not yet been proved.

In other words, it’s a statement that provides an explanation for why or how something works, based on facts (or some reasonable assumptions), but that has not yet been specifically tested . For example, a hypothesis might look something like this:

Hypothesis: sleep impacts academic performance.

This statement predicts that academic performance will be influenced by the amount and/or quality of sleep a student engages in – sounds reasonable, right? It’s based on reasonable assumptions , underpinned by what we currently know about sleep and health (from the existing literature). So, loosely speaking, we could call it a hypothesis, at least by the dictionary definition.

But that’s not good enough…

Unfortunately, that’s not quite sophisticated enough to describe a research hypothesis (also sometimes called a scientific hypothesis), and it wouldn’t be acceptable in a dissertation, thesis or research paper . In the world of academic research, a statement needs a few more criteria to constitute a true research hypothesis .

What is a research hypothesis?

A research hypothesis (also called a scientific hypothesis) is a statement about the expected outcome of a study (for example, a dissertation or thesis). To constitute a quality hypothesis, the statement needs to have three attributes – specificity , clarity and testability .

Let’s take a look at these more closely.

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hypothesis words mean

Hypothesis Essential #1: Specificity & Clarity

A good research hypothesis needs to be extremely clear and articulate about both what’ s being assessed (who or what variables are involved ) and the expected outcome (for example, a difference between groups, a relationship between variables, etc.).

Let’s stick with our sleepy students example and look at how this statement could be more specific and clear.

Hypothesis: Students who sleep at least 8 hours per night will, on average, achieve higher grades in standardised tests than students who sleep less than 8 hours a night.

As you can see, the statement is very specific as it identifies the variables involved (sleep hours and test grades), the parties involved (two groups of students), as well as the predicted relationship type (a positive relationship). There’s no ambiguity or uncertainty about who or what is involved in the statement, and the expected outcome is clear.

Contrast that to the original hypothesis we looked at – “Sleep impacts academic performance” – and you can see the difference. “Sleep” and “academic performance” are both comparatively vague , and there’s no indication of what the expected relationship direction is (more sleep or less sleep). As you can see, specificity and clarity are key.

A good research hypothesis needs to be very clear about what’s being assessed and very specific about the expected outcome.

Hypothesis Essential #2: Testability (Provability)

A statement must be testable to qualify as a research hypothesis. In other words, there needs to be a way to prove (or disprove) the statement. If it’s not testable, it’s not a hypothesis – simple as that.

For example, consider the hypothesis we mentioned earlier:

Hypothesis: Students who sleep at least 8 hours per night will, on average, achieve higher grades in standardised tests than students who sleep less than 8 hours a night.  

We could test this statement by undertaking a quantitative study involving two groups of students, one that gets 8 or more hours of sleep per night for a fixed period, and one that gets less. We could then compare the standardised test results for both groups to see if there’s a statistically significant difference. 

Again, if you compare this to the original hypothesis we looked at – “Sleep impacts academic performance” – you can see that it would be quite difficult to test that statement, primarily because it isn’t specific enough. How much sleep? By who? What type of academic performance?

So, remember the mantra – if you can’t test it, it’s not a hypothesis 🙂

A good research hypothesis must be testable. In other words, you must able to collect observable data in a scientifically rigorous fashion to test it.

Defining A Research Hypothesis

You’re still with us? Great! Let’s recap and pin down a clear definition of a hypothesis.

A research hypothesis (or scientific hypothesis) is a statement about an expected relationship between variables, or explanation of an occurrence, that is clear, specific and testable.

So, when you write up hypotheses for your dissertation or thesis, make sure that they meet all these criteria. If you do, you’ll not only have rock-solid hypotheses but you’ll also ensure a clear focus for your entire research project.

What about the null hypothesis?

You may have also heard the terms null hypothesis , alternative hypothesis, or H-zero thrown around. At a simple level, the null hypothesis is the counter-proposal to the original hypothesis.

For example, if the hypothesis predicts that there is a relationship between two variables (for example, sleep and academic performance), the null hypothesis would predict that there is no relationship between those variables.

At a more technical level, the null hypothesis proposes that no statistical significance exists in a set of given observations and that any differences are due to chance alone.

And there you have it – hypotheses in a nutshell. 

If you have any questions, be sure to leave a comment below and we’ll do our best to help you. If you need hands-on help developing and testing your hypotheses, consider our private coaching service , where we hold your hand through the research journey.

hypothesis words mean

Psst… there’s more (for free)

This post is part of our dissertation mini-course, which covers everything you need to get started with your dissertation, thesis or research project. 

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15 Comments

Lynnet Chikwaikwai

Very useful information. I benefit more from getting more information in this regard.

Dr. WuodArek

Very great insight,educative and informative. Please give meet deep critics on many research data of public international Law like human rights, environment, natural resources, law of the sea etc

Afshin

In a book I read a distinction is made between null, research, and alternative hypothesis. As far as I understand, alternative and research hypotheses are the same. Can you please elaborate? Best Afshin

GANDI Benjamin

This is a self explanatory, easy going site. I will recommend this to my friends and colleagues.

Lucile Dossou-Yovo

Very good definition. How can I cite your definition in my thesis? Thank you. Is nul hypothesis compulsory in a research?

Pereria

It’s a counter-proposal to be proven as a rejection

Egya Salihu

Please what is the difference between alternate hypothesis and research hypothesis?

Mulugeta Tefera

It is a very good explanation. However, it limits hypotheses to statistically tasteable ideas. What about for qualitative researches or other researches that involve quantitative data that don’t need statistical tests?

Derek Jansen

In qualitative research, one typically uses propositions, not hypotheses.

Samia

could you please elaborate it more

Patricia Nyawir

I’ve benefited greatly from these notes, thank you.

Hopeson Khondiwa

This is very helpful

Dr. Andarge

well articulated ideas are presented here, thank you for being reliable sources of information

TAUNO

Excellent. Thanks for being clear and sound about the research methodology and hypothesis (quantitative research)

I have only a simple question regarding the null hypothesis. – Is the null hypothesis (Ho) known as the reversible hypothesis of the alternative hypothesis (H1? – How to test it in academic research?

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noun as in theory

Strongest matches

  • explanation
  • interpretation
  • proposition
  • supposition

Strong matches

  • attribution
  • demonstration
  • presupposition
  • speculation

Weak matches

  • shot in the dark
  • starting point
  • tentative law

Discover More

Related words.

Words related to hypothesis are not direct synonyms, but are associated with the word hypothesis . Browse related words to learn more about word associations.

noun as in taking something for granted; something expected

  • expectation
  • postulation
  • presumption
  • sneaking suspicion
  • theorization

noun as in putting regard in as true

  • understanding

noun as in something regarded as true

  • fundamental
  • gospel truth

noun as in idea

  • abstraction
  • apprehension
  • conceptualization
  • consideration
  • fool notion
  • intellection

Viewing 5 / 29 related words

Example Sentences

Each one is a set of questions we’re fascinated by and hypotheses we’re testing.

Mousa’s research hinges on the “contact hypothesis,” the idea that positive interactions among rival group members can reduce prejudices.

Do more research on it, come up with a hypothesis as to why it underperforms, and try to improve it.

Now is the time to test your hypotheses to figure out what’s changing in your customers’ worlds, and address these topics directly.

Whether computing power alone is enough to fuel continued machine learning breakthroughs is a source of debate, but it seems clear we’ll be able to test the hypothesis.

Though researchers have struggled to understand exactly what contributes to this gender difference, Dr. Rohan has one hypothesis.

The leading hypothesis for the ultimate source of the Ebola virus, and where it retreats in between outbreaks, lies in bats.

In 1996, John Paul II called the Big Bang theory “more than a hypothesis.”

To be clear: There have been no double-blind or controlled studies that conclusively confirm this hair-loss hypothesis.

The bacteria-driven-ritual hypothesis ignores the huge diversity of reasons that could push someone to perform a religious ritual.

And remember it is by our hypothesis the best possible form and arrangement of that lesson.

Taken in connection with what we know of the nebulæ, the proof of Laplace's nebular hypothesis may fairly be regarded as complete.

What has become of the letter from M. de St. Mars, said to have been discovered some years ago, confirming this last hypothesis?

To admit that there had really been any communication between the dead man and the living one is also an hypothesis.

"I consider it highly probable," asserted Aunt Maria, forgetting her Scandinavian hypothesis.

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On this page you'll find 80 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to hypothesis, such as: assumption, axiom, conclusion, conjecture, explanation, and guess.

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

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  • Knowledge Base

Hypothesis Testing | A Step-by-Step Guide with Easy Examples

Published on November 8, 2019 by Rebecca Bevans . Revised on June 22, 2023.

Hypothesis testing is a formal procedure for investigating our ideas about the world using statistics . It is most often used by scientists to test specific predictions, called hypotheses, that arise from theories.

There are 5 main steps in hypothesis testing:

  • State your research hypothesis as a null hypothesis and alternate hypothesis (H o ) and (H a  or H 1 ).
  • Collect data in a way designed to test the hypothesis.
  • Perform an appropriate statistical test .
  • Decide whether to reject or fail to reject your null hypothesis.
  • Present the findings in your results and discussion section.

Though the specific details might vary, the procedure you will use when testing a hypothesis will always follow some version of these steps.

Table of contents

Step 1: state your null and alternate hypothesis, step 2: collect data, step 3: perform a statistical test, step 4: decide whether to reject or fail to reject your null hypothesis, step 5: present your findings, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about hypothesis testing.

After developing your initial research hypothesis (the prediction that you want to investigate), it is important to restate it as a null (H o ) and alternate (H a ) hypothesis so that you can test it mathematically.

The alternate hypothesis is usually your initial hypothesis that predicts a relationship between variables. The null hypothesis is a prediction of no relationship between the variables you are interested in.

  • H 0 : Men are, on average, not taller than women. H a : Men are, on average, taller than women.

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For a statistical test to be valid , it is important to perform sampling and collect data in a way that is designed to test your hypothesis. If your data are not representative, then you cannot make statistical inferences about the population you are interested in.

There are a variety of statistical tests available, but they are all based on the comparison of within-group variance (how spread out the data is within a category) versus between-group variance (how different the categories are from one another).

If the between-group variance is large enough that there is little or no overlap between groups, then your statistical test will reflect that by showing a low p -value . This means it is unlikely that the differences between these groups came about by chance.

Alternatively, if there is high within-group variance and low between-group variance, then your statistical test will reflect that with a high p -value. This means it is likely that any difference you measure between groups is due to chance.

Your choice of statistical test will be based on the type of variables and the level of measurement of your collected data .

  • an estimate of the difference in average height between the two groups.
  • a p -value showing how likely you are to see this difference if the null hypothesis of no difference is true.

Based on the outcome of your statistical test, you will have to decide whether to reject or fail to reject your null hypothesis.

In most cases you will use the p -value generated by your statistical test to guide your decision. And in most cases, your predetermined level of significance for rejecting the null hypothesis will be 0.05 – that is, when there is a less than 5% chance that you would see these results if the null hypothesis were true.

In some cases, researchers choose a more conservative level of significance, such as 0.01 (1%). This minimizes the risk of incorrectly rejecting the null hypothesis ( Type I error ).

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The results of hypothesis testing will be presented in the results and discussion sections of your research paper , dissertation or thesis .

In the results section you should give a brief summary of the data and a summary of the results of your statistical test (for example, the estimated difference between group means and associated p -value). In the discussion , you can discuss whether your initial hypothesis was supported by your results or not.

In the formal language of hypothesis testing, we talk about rejecting or failing to reject the null hypothesis. You will probably be asked to do this in your statistics assignments.

However, when presenting research results in academic papers we rarely talk this way. Instead, we go back to our alternate hypothesis (in this case, the hypothesis that men are on average taller than women) and state whether the result of our test did or did not support the alternate hypothesis.

If your null hypothesis was rejected, this result is interpreted as “supported the alternate hypothesis.”

These are superficial differences; you can see that they mean the same thing.

You might notice that we don’t say that we reject or fail to reject the alternate hypothesis . This is because hypothesis testing is not designed to prove or disprove anything. It is only designed to test whether a pattern we measure could have arisen spuriously, or by chance.

If we reject the null hypothesis based on our research (i.e., we find that it is unlikely that the pattern arose by chance), then we can say our test lends support to our hypothesis . But if the pattern does not pass our decision rule, meaning that it could have arisen by chance, then we say the test is inconsistent with our hypothesis .

If you want to know more about statistics , methodology , or research bias , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

  • Normal distribution
  • Descriptive statistics
  • Measures of central tendency
  • Correlation coefficient

Methodology

  • Cluster sampling
  • Stratified sampling
  • Types of interviews
  • Cohort study
  • Thematic analysis

Research bias

  • Implicit bias
  • Cognitive bias
  • Survivorship bias
  • Availability heuristic
  • Nonresponse bias
  • Regression to the mean

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 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).

Null and alternative hypotheses are used in statistical hypothesis testing . The null hypothesis of a test always predicts no effect or no relationship between variables, while the alternative hypothesis states your research prediction of an effect or relationship.

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Bevans, R. (2023, June 22). Hypothesis Testing | A Step-by-Step Guide with Easy Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved March 22, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/statistics/hypothesis-testing/

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hypothesis noun

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What does the noun hypothesis mean?

There are seven meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun hypothesis , two of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Entry status

OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.

How common is the noun hypothesis ?

How is the noun hypothesis pronounced, british english, u.s. english, where does the noun hypothesis come from.

Earliest known use

The earliest known use of the noun hypothesis is in the late 1500s.

OED's earliest evidence for hypothesis is from 1596, in the writing of Earl of Essex.

hypothesis is a borrowing from Greek.

Etymons: Greek ὑπόθεσις .

Nearby entries

  • hypothecarious, adj. 1726–
  • hypothecary, adj. 1656–
  • hypothecate, v. 1693–
  • hypothecation, n. 1681–
  • hypothecative, adj. 1856–
  • hypothecator, n. 1828–
  • hypothecium, n. 1866–
  • hypothenar, adj. 1706–
  • hypothermia, n. 1886–
  • hypothermic, adj. 1898–
  • hypothesis, n. 1596–
  • hypothesist, n. 1788–
  • hypothesize, v. 1738–
  • hypothesizer, n. 1833–
  • hypothetic, adj. & n. a1680–
  • hypothetical, adj. & n. 1588–
  • hypothetically, adv. 1628–
  • hypothetico-deductive, adj. 1912–
  • hypothetico-deductively, adv. 1953–
  • hypothetico-disjunctive, adj. & n. a1856–
  • hypothetist, n. 1852–

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Meaning & use

Pronunciation, compounds & derived words, entry history for hypothesis, n..

hypothesis, n. was first published in 1899; not yet revised.

hypothesis, n. was last modified in July 2023.

Revision of the OED is a long-term project. Entries in oed.com which have not been revised may include:

  • corrections and revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
  • new senses, phrases, and quotations which have been added in subsequent print and online updates.

Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into hypothesis, n. in July 2023.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1899)

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Citation details

Factsheet for hypothesis, n., browse entry.

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a proposition, or set of propositions, set forth as an explanation for the occurrence of some specified group of phenomena, either asserted merely as a provisional conjecture to guide investigation ( working hypothesis ) or accepted as highly probable in the light of established facts.

a proposition assumed as a premise in an argument.

the antecedent of a conditional proposition.

a mere assumption or guess.

Origin of hypothesis

Synonym study for hypothesis, other words from hypothesis.

  • hy·poth·e·sist, noun
  • coun·ter·hy·poth·e·sis, noun, plural coun·ter·hy·poth·e·ses.
  • sub·hy·poth·e·sis, noun, plural sub·hy·poth·e·ses.

Words that may be confused with hypothesis

  • 1. hypothesis , law , theory (see synonym study at theory )
  • 2. deduction , extrapolation , induction , generalization , hypothesis

Words Nearby hypothesis

  • hypothecium
  • hypothenuse
  • hypothermal
  • hypothermia
  • hypothesis testing
  • hypothesize
  • hypothetical
  • hypothetical imperative
  • hypothetically

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use hypothesis in a sentence

Each one is a set of questions we’re fascinated by and hypotheses we’re testing.

Mousa’s research hinges on the “contact hypothesis ,” the idea that positive interactions among rival group members can reduce prejudices.

Do more research on it, come up with a hypothesis as to why it underperforms, and try to improve it.

Now is the time to test your hypotheses to figure out what’s changing in your customers’ worlds, and address these topics directly.

Whether computing power alone is enough to fuel continued machine learning breakthroughs is a source of debate, but it seems clear we’ll be able to test the hypothesis .

Though researchers have struggled to understand exactly what contributes to this gender difference, Dr. Rohan has one hypothesis .

The leading hypothesis for the ultimate source of the Ebola virus, and where it retreats in between outbreaks, lies in bats.

In 1996, John Paul II called the Big Bang theory “more than a hypothesis .”

To be clear: There have been no double-blind or controlled studies that conclusively confirm this hair-loss hypothesis .

The bacteria-driven-ritual hypothesis ignores the huge diversity of reasons that could push someone to perform a religious ritual.

And remember it is by our hypothesis the best possible form and arrangement of that lesson.

Taken in connection with what we know of the nebulæ, the proof of Laplace's nebular hypothesis may fairly be regarded as complete.

What has become of the letter from M. de St. Mars, said to have been discovered some years ago, confirming this last hypothesis ?

To admit that there had really been any communication between the dead man and the living one is also an hypothesis .

"I consider it highly probable," asserted Aunt Maria, forgetting her Scandinavian hypothesis .

British Dictionary definitions for hypothesis

/ ( haɪˈpɒθɪsɪs ) /

a suggested explanation for a group of facts or phenomena, either accepted as a basis for further verification ( working hypothesis ) or accepted as likely to be true : Compare theory (def. 5)

an assumption used in an argument without its being endorsed; a supposition

an unproved theory; a conjecture

Derived forms of hypothesis

  • hypothesist , noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for hypothesis

[ hī-pŏth ′ ĭ-sĭs ]

A statement that explains or makes generalizations about a set of facts or principles, usually forming a basis for possible experiments to confirm its viability.

usage For hypothesis

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for hypothesis

[ (heye- poth -uh-sis) ]

plur. hypotheses (heye- poth -uh-seez)

In science, a statement of a possible explanation for some natural phenomenon. A hypothesis is tested by drawing conclusions from it; if observation and experimentation show a conclusion to be false, the hypothesis must be false. ( See scientific method and theory .)

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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5.2 - writing hypotheses.

The first step in conducting a hypothesis test is to write the hypothesis statements that are going to be tested. For each test you will have a null hypothesis (\(H_0\)) and an alternative hypothesis (\(H_a\)).

When writing hypotheses there are three things that we need to know: (1) the parameter that we are testing (2) the direction of the test (non-directional, right-tailed or left-tailed), and (3) the value of the hypothesized parameter.

  • At this point we can write hypotheses for a single mean (\(\mu\)), paired means(\(\mu_d\)), a single proportion (\(p\)), the difference between two independent means (\(\mu_1-\mu_2\)), the difference between two proportions (\(p_1-p_2\)), a simple linear regression slope (\(\beta\)), and a correlation (\(\rho\)). 
  • The research question will give us the information necessary to determine if the test is two-tailed (e.g., "different from," "not equal to"), right-tailed (e.g., "greater than," "more than"), or left-tailed (e.g., "less than," "fewer than").
  • The research question will also give us the hypothesized parameter value. This is the number that goes in the hypothesis statements (i.e., \(\mu_0\) and \(p_0\)). For the difference between two groups, regression, and correlation, this value is typically 0.

Hypotheses are always written in terms of population parameters (e.g., \(p\) and \(\mu\)).  The tables below display all of the possible hypotheses for the parameters that we have learned thus far. Note that the null hypothesis always includes the equality (i.e., =).

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“Ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have.” — James Baldwin

The African American writer James Baldwin, one of America’s preeminent 20th century public intellectuals, spoke eloquently of the importance of protecting academic freedom and a liberal education on America’s colleges and universities. Baldwin wrote:

“The paradox of education is precisely this — that as one begins to become conscious one begins to examine the society in which he is being educated. The purpose of education, finally, is to create in a person the ability to look at the world for himself, to make his own decisions, to say to himself this is black or this is white, to decide for himself whether there is a God in heaven or not. To ask questions of the universe, and then learn to live with those questions, is the way he achieves his own identity. But no society is really anxious to have that kind of person around. What societies really, ideally, want is a citizenry which will simply obey the rules of society. If a society succeeds in this, that society is about to perish.”

Baldwin’s warnings resonate loudly to those of us who have committed our lives to higher education in the state of Florida. Gov. DeSantis and the Republican-dominated Legislature have systematically limited our students’ ability to question the status quo and achieve their own identity. DeSantis has complained about so-called liberal political indoctrination and “gender ideology” being inflicted on students. The public is given the view that there is a monolithic, highly politicized elite in our colleges and universities attempting to enforce a “woke” politically correct view of human life which is subverting traditional values. This highly charged political attack is profoundly false.

The Florida government’s harmful actions have been well-documented by numerous organizations and scholars, and include: the hostile takeover of New College; defunding of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs; bullying of students and educators supportive of LGBTQ+ people; and attacking the academic fields of sociology and women’s and gender studies.

The governor has, in particular, targeted transgender students, immigrants, school board members, higher education curriculum, accreditation and tenure. According to the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), all of this has resulted in the “undoing (of) 40 years of civil rights legislation and practice toward greater equality and justice for African Americans, immigrants, women, and LGBTQ+ people.” In response to the eliminating of DEI programs, the NAACP has urged Black student athletes to reconsider attending public colleges and universities in Florida.

In addition, Florida leaders don’t want students to question a version of American history filled with romantic notions of our country’s history. HB 7, known as the “anti-woke bill,” specifically undermines academic freedom and instead demands professors adhere to political indoctrination and a strict conservative ideological agenda. The law prohibits “teaching certain topics or presenting information in specified ways” and bans teaching that “systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States.” While the law is being challenged in courts, it has already succeeded in chilling and limiting the free exchange of ideas at colleges throughout Florida. The AAUP has characterized Florida’s actions as a “political and ideologically driven assault unparalleled in U.S. history that threatens the very survival of meaningful higher education in the state, with dire implications for the entire country.”

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For those of us who believe in the fundamental link between an educated citizenry and democracy, the fight to reverse these pernicious actions and reestablish academic freedom in Florida remains a top priority. If we become complacent, Baldwin will unfortunately turn out to be correct and our democracy could perish. Universities play a vital role in teaching students to be able to distinguish between reasoned argument versus indoctrination. Democracy depends on an educated and informed citizenry able to make a distinction between cogent rational analysis as opposed to demagoguery and political opportunism.

To be clear: A “liberal” education does not mean an education that indoctrinates students in either the values of political liberalism or economic neoliberalism. Rather the word “liberal” within academics derives from the Latin word liber and the Greek word eleutheros, both meaning “free.” The liberal educational tradition thus celebrates and nurtures human freedom. Students are asked to develop the capacity to critically examine oneself and one’s tradition. This means accepting no belief as authoritative simply because it has been passed down by tradition or promoted by a governor or a college professor. All theories and ideas must be freely discussed and debated, including controversial approaches such as Critical Race Theory and structural racism. Ideas, theories and beliefs are thus accepted or rejected solely on the basis of reasoned argument, valid explanation and verified facts.

As teachers of the liberal arts, we expose our students to timeless themes on human nature that have guided humanity for hundreds of years. The writings and ideas of some of the major thinkers in human history (for example, Aristotle, Mencius, Shakespeare, Du Bois and so on) are placed in conversation with new 21st century topics of critical importance to American today.

As a professor for more than 30 years, I attempted to help students develop empathy and to try to understand what it might be like to experience life from a position other than one’s own. To accomplish this goal, new topics emerged, including the history and culture of non-Western peoples, the treatment of ethnic and racial minorities within the U.S., the experiences and achievements of women, the history and concerns of LGBTQ+ people and the idea of global citizenship. A liberal arts education helps students become aware of the connections we have to other people and the obligations within our democracy to use that knowledge responsibly.

It was fascinating to hear Baldwin say that reading Charles Dickens “taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, or who had been alive.” Through reading Dickens, Baldwin was able to identify the commonalities between the position of the poor and disposed throughout history and connect them to the struggles of African Americans in his lifetime.

This identification of our common humanity across time and space, through reading the classic enduring works such as Dickens, is a powerful example of the impact of a liberal education. DeSantis often seems to imply that assigning the writings of queer authors like Baldwin is inflicting “gender ideology” on students. This is nonsense. Baldwin remains a stirring example of a liberal intellectual helping us better understand our world. Such knowledge makes us all enhanced citizens and strengthens our democracy.

William F. Felice is professor emeritus of political science at Eckerd College He is the author of six books on human rights and international relations. Contact him via his website at williamfelice.com .

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Why Investors Should Ignore the Fed's Words After This Meeting

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T he Federal Reserve Banks’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will begin a scheduled meeting today and will announce the policy decisions, if any, that come out of that meeting tomorrow, on March 20. This March meeting was, just a few months ago, the one at which most economists and analysts had believed that the FOMC would change course and announce a rate cut, but hardly anyone believes that now.

The current conventional wisdom is that the cut will come in June, but given how convinced so many were for so long that it would be at this meeting, should investors be factoring a June cut into their calculations at this point?

Clearly not. That view can change, and the announcement and the press conference that follow this meeting could be the catalyst for that change. Or it might not.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying that Jay Powell will say or write categorically that the Fed is not going to cut rates in June, or that they are. Fed Chairs don’t deal in specifics about what might happen, not least because they are generally smart people. Smart people know what they don’t know, and not even they know the future.

However, when the FOMC issues a statement following its meetings, the wording of that statement is always parsed to death by “Fed watchers” at major banks and trading houses and in the media, people whose job it is to predict the Fed’s future actions based on subtle changes to their messaging.

There is an obvious problem for Fed watchers these days, though. Powell has often said, as did his predecessors, that any decision that the committee and he may make will not be predetermined, but will depend on the data and forecasts available to them at any given time.

In other words, the FOMC themselves don’t know what they are going to do, or when they are going to do it, so how can the wording of their statement give a clue as to their intentions? If their words are to be believed, they don’t have any intentions.

So, if the Fed’s words tomorrow essentially mean nothing, what should investors do? For most, the answer, understandably is “nothing.” It is rarely a good idea to make major changes to your portfolio based on one piece of information, no matter how significant that information may seem. Even if you correctly identify something that causes the market to drop, say 10%, it may keep going up for a while before that impact is seen and then you face the question of when to reinvest.

Overall, the chances of you making a material positive difference to your portfolio’s performance are slim, while the triple threat of either getting it wrong completely, not buying back in soon enough, or buying back in too soon creates significant risk and limits the upside potential of your decision.

As logical, obvious even, as it is to not do anything drastic after the Fed’s decision is announced, many investors will feel pressured to act. Financial media will be full of analysis of what is and isn’t said, and there will be an immediate, maybe quite drastic reaction in stocks. That reaction, though, is the concern of traders, not long-term investors.

If you are a trader and want to get involved, the best thing to do is to fade that initial reaction. That is based on the fact that for all the analysis and parsing, the words that will have caused the reaction are not a statement of intent. They are a snapshot of the committee members’ feelings at that moment, feelings that are subject to change at any time, and as the market comes to terms with that, a retracement is far more likely than sustained momentum. The exception would be if the FOMC shocks the world and does change rates. In the very unlikely event that  that happens, follow the crowd.

When the statement is released tomorrow, the words in it and in the subsequent press conference will seem important in the moment, but they basically mean nothing. If any action is taken by the Fed, it will be based on the data released over the coming weeks on the job market, inflation, and growth. So, if you are looking for clues as to what to do, look there, rather than trying to interpret statements deliberately designed to be vague.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

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Martin Tillier

Martin Tillier spent years working in the Foreign Exchange market, which required an in-depth understanding of both the world’s markets and psychology and techniques of traders. In 2002, Martin left the markets, moved to the U.S., and opened a successful wine store, but the lure of the financial world proved too strong, leading Martin to join a major firm as financial advisor.

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Are You Talking, or Are You ‘Yapping’?

A new slang term with an old meaning emerges on TikTok.

An illustration shows six free-floating open mouths, with cartoon balloons attached.

By Madison Malone Kircher

Have you ever been told you have the gift of gab? Did your school report cards suggest you pipe down in class? Perhaps you’ve been called a chatterbox on an occasion or two?

If you answered yes to one or more of those questions, you might be a yapper.

Terms like yapper, yap and yapping have become popular on TikTok in recent weeks . To yap, in modern parlance, is simply to talk … a lot , often about something of little importance.

“In the internet context, I would say somebody that’s a yapper is somebody that talks too much or is an over-sharer,” said Taylor-Nicole Limas, a 27-year-old influencer and self-proclaimed yapper in Chicago. “Somebody that just keeps on talking to fill the air. If it gets quiet, they just don’t stop talking.”

Users might post a video of themselves yapping, talking at length about a given topic — perhaps something they feel moved to rant about or a subject in which they are an armchair expert. Or someone might be called a yapper in the comments of a video (whether the speaker intended to yap or not).

Being labeled a yapper isn’t necessarily a compliment, but on a platform built on talk, it isn’t an insult either.

Some creators have cheerfully embraced the moniker. Last summer, the TikTokers @bag_and_cj became known for videos in which they react to other TikTok videos with rambling commentary. The duo was named Yip and Yap by their fans. (An occasional third participant is known as Yop.)

On a podcast in February, the ESPN host Tim MacMahon invoked the term in a less flattering context when he floated it as a potential factor in the Dallas Mavericks’ decision to trade Grant Williams. “I would say one of the ways that Grant Williams rubbed people the wrong way — the yap, yap, yapping — obviously, that’s kind of part of it with him,” Mr. MacMahon said.

Reesa Teesa, who recently captivated TikTok with a multipart saga detailing the ins and outs of her dramatic marriage, may be a prime example of the form. She captivated millions with a tale that stretched over more than six hours.

@ladyaguilera2.0 I mean am I wrong??? #fyp #fypシ ♬ original sound - Ladyaguilera2.0

Jess Rauchberg, an assistant professor of communication technologies at Seton Hall University, said she wasn’t surprised to see so-called yapping becoming more common, given TikTok’s recent emphasis on longer videos. Users can currently upload videos up to 10 minutes long, and the platform is testing videos as long as 30 minutes, according to TechCrunch .

Though it wasn’t always referred to as such, yapping has long been a hallmark of social media, where content creators, particularly on YouTube, are known to film longer videos, potentially allowing for more advertising revenue.

The term has cropped up more recently as “a way to poke fun at these long-form ways of sharing ideas,” Dr. Rauchberg said. “I also see it as a way that creators are self-internalizing their biggest fears of content creation, that dark side of content creation: What if I’m not likable? What if I’m saying too much or I say the wrong thing?”

The word “yap” dates to the early 17th century, said Nicole Holliday, an assistant professor of linguistics at Pomona College. It originally was used to describe the sounds made by dogs. (In recent decades, the word has popped up in hip-hop .)

“Particularly like small, high-pitched dog,” Dr. Holliday said. “Which can, maybe, give you an idea of the way in which this word would be gendered .”

Not every yapper is a woman, but much online yapping content is made by or about women. Some female users say they are reclaiming a gender stereotype by identifying with the term.

“I don’t think it’s a negative trait to be yapping all the time,” Ms. Limas, the influencer, said. “I think the play on the word ‘yapper’ that is becoming more popular is a way to take that power back, a way of saying that it’s OK to be talkative .”

Not everyone feels moved to give a new name to a timeless idea. "Yap, yapping, yapper. What on the earth do these words even mean? I feel too old suddenly,” one user posted on X this month.

The good news for that user, according to Dr. Holliday, is that “yapping” — the term, not the tendency to be chatty — will probably be on its way out just as quickly as it arrived. New slang terms rely on “uncool people” never finding out about them, she said, and “the problem with TikTok is uncool people can see you talking in public.”

“We have to keep outrunning them,” she joked.

Madison Malone Kircher is a Times reporter covering internet culture. More about Madison Malone Kircher

The Rise of TikTok

“Who TF Did I Marry?!?,” the TikTok user Reesa Teesa’s account of her relationship with her ex-husband, is a story for grown-ups  in their midlife crisis era.

Return fraud is a rampant problem  for both shoppers and retailers — and the mishaps often make for viral videos on TikTok.

The Pink Stuff, a home cleaning paste, went from total obscurity to viral sensation — and Walmart staple — thanks to one “cleanfluencer” and her legion of fans .

Have we reached the end of TikTok’s infinite scroll? The app once offered seemingly endless chances to be charmed but in only a few short years, its promise of kismet is evaporating , our critic writes.

The TikTok creator known as “Tunnel Girl” has been documenting her attempt to build an emergency shelter under her home. She is not the only person with an off-the-books tunnel project .

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COMMENTS

  1. HYPOTHESIS

    HYPOTHESIS meaning: 1. an idea or explanation for something that is based on known facts but has not yet been proved…. Learn more.

  2. HYPOTHESIS

    HYPOTHESIS definition: 1. an idea or explanation for something that is based on known facts but has not yet been proved…. Learn more.

  3. HYPOTHESIS Synonyms: 35 Similar and Opposite Words

    Synonyms for HYPOTHESIS: theory, thesis, proposition, premise, assumption, suggestion, guess, supposition; Antonyms of HYPOTHESIS: fact, knowledge, assurance, certainty

  4. Hypothesis Definition & Meaning

    Hypothesis definition, a proposition, or set of propositions, set forth as an explanation for the occurrence of some specified group of phenomena, either asserted merely as a provisional conjecture to guide investigation (working hypothesis ) or accepted as highly probable in the light of established facts. See more.

  5. Hypothesis

    hypothesis: 1 n a tentative insight into the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena "a scientific hypothesis that survives experimental testing becomes a scientific theory" Synonyms: possibility , theory Types: show 17 types... hide 17 types... hypothetical a hypothetical ...

  6. HYPOTHESIS definition and meaning

    3 meanings: 1. a suggested explanation for a group of facts or phenomena, either accepted as a basis for further verification.... Click for more definitions.

  7. hypothesis noun

    His hypothesis about what dreams mean provoked a lot of debate. Research supports the hypothesis that language skills are centred in the left side of the brain. The survey will be used to test the hypothesis that people who work outside the home are fitter and happier.

  8. hypothesis noun

    Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. Toggle navigation. Redeem Upgrade ... is based on a few known facts but that has not yet been proved to be true or correct synonym theory to formulate/confirm a hypothesis a hypothesis about the function of dreams There is little evidence to support ...

  9. HYPOTHESIS definition

    HYPOTHESIS meaning: a suggested explanation for something that has not yet been proved to be true. Learn more.

  10. How to Write a Strong Hypothesis

    Developing a hypothesis (with example) 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. Example: Research question.

  11. hypothesis

    From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Related topics: Philosophy hypothesis hy‧poth‧e‧sis / haɪˈpɒθəsɪs $ -ˈpɑː-/ AWL noun (plural hypotheses /-siːz /) 1 [countable] RP IDEA an idea that is suggested as an explanation for something, but that has not yet been proved to be true SYN theory One hypothesis is that the ...

  12. Hypothesis Definition (Science)

    Hypothesis Versus Theory . Although in common usage the terms hypothesis and theory are used interchangeably, the two words mean something different from each other in science. Like a hypothesis, a theory is testable and may be used to make predictions. However, a theory has been tested using the scientific method many times.

  13. Hypothesis Definition & Meaning

    Hypothesis definition: An unproved theory, proposition, supposition, etc. tentatively accepted to explain certain facts or (working hypothesis) to provide a basis for further investigation, argument, etc.

  14. Hypothesis

    The hypothesis of Andreas Cellarius, showing the planetary motions in eccentric and epicyclical orbits.. A hypothesis (pl.: hypotheses) is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon.For a hypothesis to be a scientific hypothesis, the scientific method requires that one can test it. Scientists generally base scientific hypotheses on previous observations that cannot satisfactorily be explained ...

  15. What Is A Research Hypothesis? A Simple Definition

    A research hypothesis (also called a scientific hypothesis) is a statement about the expected outcome of a study (for example, a dissertation or thesis). To constitute a quality hypothesis, the statement needs to have three attributes - specificity, clarity and testability. Let's take a look at these more closely.

  16. 52 Synonyms & Antonyms for hypothesis

    Find 52 different ways to say hypothesis, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus.com.

  17. Hypothesis Testing

    Hypothesis testing is a formal procedure for investigating our ideas about the world using statistics. It is most often used by scientists to test specific predictions, called hypotheses, that arise from theories. ... Stating results in a statistics assignment In our comparison of mean height between men and women we found an average difference ...

  18. hypothesis, n. meanings, etymology and more

    The earliest known use of the noun hypothesis is in the late 1500s. OED's earliest evidence for hypothesis is from 1596, in the writing of Earl of Essex. hypothesis is a borrowing from Greek. Etymons: Greek ὑπόθεσις. See etymology. 1726-.

  19. HYPOTHESIS Definition & Usage Examples

    Hypothesis definition: . See examples of HYPOTHESIS used in a sentence.

  20. 5.2

    Alternative Hypothesis. The statement that there is some difference in the population (s), denoted as H a or H 1. When writing hypotheses there are three things that we need to know: (1) the parameter that we are testing (2) the direction of the test (non-directional, right-tailed or left-tailed), and (3) the value of the hypothesized parameter.

  21. HYPOTHESIS

    HYPOTHESIS - Synonyms, related words and examples | Cambridge English Thesaurus

  22. What is Hypothesis

    A hypothesis is an assumption that is made based on some evidence. This is the initial point of any investigation that translates the research questions into predictions. It includes components like variables, population and the relation between the variables. A research hypothesis is a hypothesis that is used to test the relationship between ...

  23. The 'liberal' in liberal education doesn't mean what many people think

    William F. Felice. The 'liberal' in liberal education doesn't mean what many people think. The word "liberal" within academics derives from the Latin word liber and the Greek word ...

  24. Why Investors Should Ignore the Fed's Words After This Meeting

    Fed Chairs don't deal in specifics about what might happen, not least because they are generally smart people. Smart people know what they don't know, and not even they know the future ...

  25. What Is 'Yapping'?

    What on the earth do these words even mean? I feel too old suddenly," one user posted on X this month. The good news for that user, according to Dr. Holliday, is that "yapping" — the term ...