Have a language expert improve your writing
Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.
- Knowledge Base
Methodology
- How to Write a Strong Hypothesis | Steps & Examples
How to Write a Strong Hypothesis | Steps & Examples
Published on May 6, 2022 by Shona McCombes . Revised on November 20, 2023.
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 .
Example: Hypothesis
Daily apple consumption leads to fewer doctor’s visits.
Table of contents
What is a hypothesis, developing a hypothesis (with example), hypothesis examples, other interesting articles, 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 types of variables .
- An independent variable is something the researcher changes or controls.
- A dependent variable is something the researcher observes and measures.
If there are any control variables , extraneous variables , or confounding variables , be sure to jot those down as you go to minimize the chances that research bias will affect your results.
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 .
Receive feedback on language, structure, and formatting
Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:
- Academic style
- Vague sentences
- Style consistency
See an 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.
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 ensure that you’re embarking on a relevant topic . This can also help you identify which variables you will study and what you think the relationships are between them. Sometimes, you’ll have to operationalize 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.
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
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.
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 .
- H 0 : The number of lectures attended by first-year students has no effect on their final exam scores.
- H 1 : The number of lectures attended by first-year students has a positive effect on their final exam scores.
If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.
- Sampling methods
- Simple random sampling
- Stratified sampling
- Cluster sampling
- Likert scales
- Reproducibility
Statistics
- Null hypothesis
- Statistical power
- Probability distribution
- Effect size
- Poisson distribution
Research bias
- Optimism bias
- Cognitive bias
- Implicit bias
- Hawthorne effect
- Anchoring bias
- Explicit bias
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.
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.
Cite this Scribbr article
If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.
McCombes, S. (2023, November 20). How to Write a Strong Hypothesis | Steps & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved March 20, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/hypothesis/
Is this article helpful?
Shona McCombes
Other students also liked, construct validity | definition, types, & examples, what is a conceptual framework | tips & examples, operationalization | a guide with examples, pros & cons, unlimited academic ai-proofreading.
✔ Document error-free in 5minutes ✔ Unlimited document corrections ✔ Specialized in correcting academic texts
If you're seeing this message, it means we're having trouble loading external resources on our website.
If you're behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains *.kastatic.org and *.kasandbox.org are unblocked.
To log in and use all the features of Khan Academy, please enable JavaScript in your browser.
Biology library
Course: biology library > unit 1, the scientific method.
- Controlled experiments
- The scientific method and experimental design
Introduction
- Make an observation.
- Ask a question.
- Form a hypothesis , or testable explanation.
- Make a prediction based on the hypothesis.
- Test the prediction.
- Iterate: use the results to make new hypotheses or predictions.
Scientific method example: Failure to toast
1. make an observation..
- Observation: the toaster won't toast.
2. Ask a question.
- Question: Why won't my toaster toast?
3. Propose a hypothesis.
- Hypothesis: Maybe the outlet is broken.
4. Make predictions.
- Prediction: If I plug the toaster into a different outlet, then it will toast the bread.
5. Test the predictions.
- Test of prediction: Plug the toaster into a different outlet and try again.
- If the toaster does toast, then the hypothesis is supported—likely correct.
- If the toaster doesn't toast, then the hypothesis is not supported—likely wrong.
Logical possibility
Practical possibility, building a body of evidence, 6. iterate..
- Iteration time!
- If the hypothesis was supported, we might do additional tests to confirm it, or revise it to be more specific. For instance, we might investigate why the outlet is broken.
- If the hypothesis was not supported, we would come up with a new hypothesis. For instance, the next hypothesis might be that there's a broken wire in the toaster.
Want to join the conversation?
- Upvote Button navigates to signup page
- Downvote Button navigates to signup page
- Flag Button navigates to signup page
What is a scientific hypothesis?
It's the initial building block in the scientific method.
Hypothesis basics
What makes a hypothesis testable.
- Types of hypotheses
- Hypothesis versus theory
Additional resources
Bibliography.
A scientific hypothesis is a tentative, testable explanation for a phenomenon in the natural world. It's the initial building block in the scientific method . Many describe it as an "educated guess" based on prior knowledge and observation. While this is true, a hypothesis is more informed than a guess. While an "educated guess" suggests a random prediction based on a person's expertise, developing a hypothesis requires active observation and background research.
The basic idea of a hypothesis is that there is no predetermined outcome. For a solution to be termed a scientific hypothesis, it has to be an idea that can be supported or refuted through carefully crafted experimentation or observation. This concept, called falsifiability and testability, was advanced in the mid-20th century by Austrian-British philosopher Karl Popper in his famous book "The Logic of Scientific Discovery" (Routledge, 1959).
A key function of a hypothesis is to derive predictions about the results of future experiments and then perform those experiments to see whether they support the predictions.
A hypothesis is usually written in the form of an if-then statement, which gives a possibility (if) and explains what may happen because of the possibility (then). The statement could also include "may," according to California State University, Bakersfield .
Here are some examples of hypothesis statements:
- If garlic repels fleas, then a dog that is given garlic every day will not get fleas.
- If sugar causes cavities, then people who eat a lot of candy may be more prone to cavities.
- If ultraviolet light can damage the eyes, then maybe this light can cause blindness.
A useful hypothesis should be testable and falsifiable. That means that it should be possible to prove it wrong. A theory that can't be proved wrong is nonscientific, according to Karl Popper's 1963 book " Conjectures and Refutations ."
An example of an untestable statement is, "Dogs are better than cats." That's because the definition of "better" is vague and subjective. However, an untestable statement can be reworded to make it testable. For example, the previous statement could be changed to this: "Owning a dog is associated with higher levels of physical fitness than owning a cat." With this statement, the researcher can take measures of physical fitness from dog and cat owners and compare the two.
Types of scientific hypotheses
In an experiment, researchers generally state their hypotheses in two ways. The null hypothesis predicts that there will be no relationship between the variables tested, or no difference between the experimental groups. The alternative hypothesis predicts the opposite: that there will be a difference between the experimental groups. This is usually the hypothesis scientists are most interested in, according to the University of Miami .
For example, a null hypothesis might state, "There will be no difference in the rate of muscle growth between people who take a protein supplement and people who don't." The alternative hypothesis would state, "There will be a difference in the rate of muscle growth between people who take a protein supplement and people who don't."
If the results of the experiment show a relationship between the variables, then the null hypothesis has been rejected in favor of the alternative hypothesis, according to the book " Research Methods in Psychology " (BCcampus, 2015).
There are other ways to describe an alternative hypothesis. The alternative hypothesis above does not specify a direction of the effect, only that there will be a difference between the two groups. That type of prediction is called a two-tailed hypothesis. If a hypothesis specifies a certain direction — for example, that people who take a protein supplement will gain more muscle than people who don't — it is called a one-tailed hypothesis, according to William M. K. Trochim , a professor of Policy Analysis and Management at Cornell University.
Sometimes, errors take place during an experiment. These errors can happen in one of two ways. A type I error is when the null hypothesis is rejected when it is true. This is also known as a false positive. A type II error occurs when the null hypothesis is not rejected when it is false. This is also known as a false negative, according to the University of California, Berkeley .
A hypothesis can be rejected or modified, but it can never be proved correct 100% of the time. For example, a scientist can form a hypothesis stating that if a certain type of tomato has a gene for red pigment, that type of tomato will be red. During research, the scientist then finds that each tomato of this type is red. Though the findings confirm the hypothesis, there may be a tomato of that type somewhere in the world that isn't red. Thus, the hypothesis is true, but it may not be true 100% of the time.
Scientific theory vs. scientific hypothesis
The best hypotheses are simple. They deal with a relatively narrow set of phenomena. But theories are broader; they generally combine multiple hypotheses into a general explanation for a wide range of phenomena, according to the University of California, Berkeley . For example, a hypothesis might state, "If animals adapt to suit their environments, then birds that live on islands with lots of seeds to eat will have differently shaped beaks than birds that live on islands with lots of insects to eat." After testing many hypotheses like these, Charles Darwin formulated an overarching theory: the theory of evolution by natural selection.
"Theories are the ways that we make sense of what we observe in the natural world," Tanner said. "Theories are structures of ideas that explain and interpret facts."
- Read more about writing a hypothesis, from the American Medical Writers Association.
- Find out why a hypothesis isn't always necessary in science, from The American Biology Teacher.
- Learn about null and alternative hypotheses, from Prof. Essa on YouTube .
Encyclopedia Britannica. Scientific Hypothesis. Jan. 13, 2022. https://www.britannica.com/science/scientific-hypothesis
Karl Popper, "The Logic of Scientific Discovery," Routledge, 1959.
California State University, Bakersfield, "Formatting a testable hypothesis." https://www.csub.edu/~ddodenhoff/Bio100/Bio100sp04/formattingahypothesis.htm
Karl Popper, "Conjectures and Refutations," Routledge, 1963.
Price, P., Jhangiani, R., & Chiang, I., "Research Methods of Psychology — 2nd Canadian Edition," BCcampus, 2015.
University of Miami, "The Scientific Method" http://www.bio.miami.edu/dana/161/evolution/161app1_scimethod.pdf
William M.K. Trochim, "Research Methods Knowledge Base," https://conjointly.com/kb/hypotheses-explained/
University of California, Berkeley, "Multiple Hypothesis Testing and False Discovery Rate" https://www.stat.berkeley.edu/~hhuang/STAT141/Lecture-FDR.pdf
University of California, Berkeley, "Science at multiple levels" https://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/0_0_0/howscienceworks_19
Sign up for the Live Science daily newsletter now
Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox.
Iceland volcano: Gigantic plume of toxic gas from latest eruption is moving across Europe, satellite data shows
2,000 earthquakes in 1 day off Canada coast suggest the ocean floor is ripping apart, scientists say
NASA only needs a single grain of ice to detect alien life in our solar system, study shows
Most Popular
By Anna Gora December 27, 2023
By Anna Gora December 26, 2023
By Anna Gora December 25, 2023
By Emily Cooke December 23, 2023
By Victoria Atkinson December 22, 2023
By Anna Gora December 16, 2023
By Anna Gora December 15, 2023
By Anna Gora November 09, 2023
By Donavyn Coffey November 06, 2023
By Anna Gora October 31, 2023
By Anna Gora October 26, 2023
- 2 Mass grave of plague victims may be largest ever found in Europe, archaeologists say
- 3 India's evolutionary past tied to huge migration 50,000 years ago and to now-extinct human relatives
- 4 1,900-year-old coins from Jewish revolt against the Romans discovered in the Judaen desert
- 5 Dying SpaceX rocket creates glowing, galaxy-like spiral in the middle of the Northern Lights
- 2 Speck of light spotted by Hubble is one of the most enormous galaxies in the early universe, James Webb telescope reveals
- 3 8-hour intermittent fasting tied to 90% higher risk of cardiovascular death, early data hint
- 4 Beluga whales appear to change the shape of their melon heads to communicate, scientists discover
- 5 Brutal footage shows orca mom and son team up to drown another pod's calf
- Images home
- Editorial home
- Editorial video
- Premium collections
- Entertainment
- Premium images
- AI generated images
- Curated collections
- Animals/Wildlife
- Backgrounds/Textures
- Beauty/Fashion
- Buildings/Landmarks
- Business/Finance
- Celebrities
- Food and Drink
- Healthcare/Medical
- Illustrations/Clip-Art
- Miscellaneous
- Parks/Outdoor
- Signs/Symbols
- Sports/Recreation
- Transportation
- All categories
- Shutterstock Select
- Shutterstock Elements
- Health Care
Browse Content
- Sound effects
PremiumBeat
- PixelSquid 3D objects
- Templates Home
- Instagram all
- Highlight covers
- Facebook all
- Carousel ads
- Cover photos
- Event covers
- Youtube all
- Channel Art
- Etsy big banner
- Etsy mini banner
- Etsy shop icon
- Pinterest all
- Pinterest pins
- Twitter All
- Twitter Banner
- Infographics
- Zoom backgrounds
- Announcements
- Certificates
- Gift Certificates
- Real Estate Flyer
- Travel Brochures
- Anniversary
- Baby Shower
- Mother's Day
- Thanksgiving
- All Invitations
- Party invitations
- Wedding invitations
- Book Covers
- About Creative Flow
- Start a design
AI image generator
- Photo editor
- Background remover
- Collage maker
- Resize image
- Color palettes
Color palette generator
- Image converter
- Creative AI
- Design tips
- Custom plans
- Request quote
- Shutterstock Studios
0 Credits Available
You currently have 0 credits
See all plans
Image plans
With access to 400M+ photos, vectors, illustrations, and more. Includes AI generated images!
Video plans
A library of 28 million high quality video clips. Choose between packs and subscription.
Music plans
Download tracks one at a time, or get a subscription with unlimited downloads.
Editorial plans
Instant access to over 50 million images and videos for news, sports, and entertainment.
Includes templates, design tools, AI-powered recommendations, and much more.
Search by image
Hypothesis royalty-free images
7,079 hypothesis stock photos, vectors, and illustrations are available royalty-free for download., laboratory scientist group study human brain and psychology. medical research microscope. head tomography. chemical experiment. diagnostics development hemisphere. flat cartoon vector illustration.
Scientist uses a chalkboard to explain the scientific method steps. Digital illustration.
Scientific Process Icon Set and hypothesis, analysis, etc
Text the word IDEAS.
Alzheimer disease as a neuropathology memory loss due to brain degeneration and decline as a surreal medical neurology illness concept.
A/B TEST Laptop on table. Warm tone
Simulation theory, conceptual digital 3d illustration
Hypothesis concept word cloud background
Hand writing hypothesis on a white board
Scientific method vector illustration. Labeled process methodology scheme. Educational empirical method of acquiring knowledge with observation, question, hypothesis, experiment, conclusion and result
Science and Research Icon showing one part of the scientific process
Illustration of Scientific Method Infographic Timeline Chart
research. Chart with keywords and icons
Human Doubt, question mark in the head. Flat design
test tube icon
Healthcare concept of professional psychologist doctor consult in psychotherapy session or counsel diagnosis health.Digital health concepts
Close up to the dictionary definition of Hypothesis
group of scientists working at the laboratory .she use microscope
AB testing, hypothesis or interface testing, support, and solution. Internet marketing concept. Flat thin line vector illustration on white.
Healthcare concept of professional psychologist doctor consult in psychotherapy session or counsel diagnosis health. Women's Health concept.
laboratory equipment icon
Hand writing Hypothesis with marker, concept background
Business Management and Growth Vector Line Icons 46
AB testing icon
Asian scientist in the laboratory working at lab with test tubes
Scientific method icon set vector design. Step 1 Definition of problem, Step 2 Collect information, Step 3 Statement of hypothesis, Step 4 Experimenting and Step 5 Conclusion
set of laboratory equipment
Vector colorful mix icon for hypothesis
Businessman presenting concept about research, innovation and experiments, hand touching a button on virtual screen and icons about chemistry
Scientific method explanation scheme with test experiments outline concept. Reliable approach to question hypothesis and assumptions to analyze and research if its true or false vector illustration.
side-view of a student in a chemistry lab writing on a blackboard formulas under her teacher supervision
triune brain hypothesis. theory about evolution of human's brain. limbic system. Reptilian complex, mammalian brain, Neocortex
Vector concept of Questions Couples, question mark
Environmental concept. Tree forming the world globe in its branches and leaves
Exclamation point, error, warning, limitation, and cute man. A pensive man stands at the exclamation mark. Error, warning, limitation. Flat line elegant vector illustration on white
New ideas and discoveries. A smart scientist girl stands at the blackboard with chemical formulas in a hat with a luminous light bulb on her head and raises her index finger. Eureka! Education.
Avogadro's hypothesis with balloons
A red figure with a light bulb stands out among the rest. Choose best idea. Promising business startup. Most effective solution to task problem. Patenting and authorship. Confirmed hypothesis version.
Hypothesis concept with speech bubble and question sign, vector illustration in flat style
Dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia. dopamine pathway dysfunction. Humans brain with dopamine pathways.
A/B TEST Thoughtful male person looking to the digital phone screen,Silhouette top computer and hand
Hand drawn geometry formulas Science knowledge education.
Idea, insight, key, lamp, lightbulb Line Icon
hypothesis word - text in vintage wooden letterpress printing blocks against grunge painted wood
Research concept made with words drawing a magnifying glass
Male fingers are holding one white puzzle.
Research poster design. Scientific research message concept
Always Test Verify Assumptions Hypothesis Theory Signs 3D
A team of three scientists scoop inside a person's brain to get information about their consumption habits
scientific method word cloud on a vintage slate blackboard with a cup of coffee
Acronym SHT as Statistical hypothesis testing.
hypothesis icon. Thin linear hypothesis outline icon isolated on white background. Line vector hypothesis sign, symbol for web and mobile
Several question marks represent the questioning of an audience or several questions on a subject. 3D rendering
Hand writing hypothesis
red, black and white Danger, Assumption warning sign
Hand drawn physics formulas Science knowledge education.
Study and practice with the human brain in x-ray laboratory.
Hypothesis Calligraphic line art Text shopping poster vector illustration Design.
3D Isometric Flat Vector Conceptual Illustration of Scientific Method, Process of Acquiring Knowledge
Scientific Method Word Circle Concept with a white center with great terms such as retest, hypothesis and more.
Concept of Null Hypothesis write on sticky notes isolated on Wooden Table.
Hand dropping apple. Hand with falling apple. Gravity concept. Flat style
A/B TEST Laptop on table man work test
glass laboratory apparatus with color water
Team meeting and teamwork concept, discussion of the project, prioritization of tasks, creating hypotheses, and product cards. Cute cartoon man, woman, lightbulb, and papers on the table. Line vector
Vector colorful illustration icon for hypothesis
Banner research vector illustration concept with keywords and icons
Background concept wordcloud illustration of scientific method research glowing light
Background concept wordcloud illustration of scientific method research
doubt design over gray background vector illustration
Vector sign question mark in the head
Hypothesis.The word is written on a slip of colored paper. Psychological terms, psychologic words, Spiritual terminology. psychiatric research. Mental Health Buzzwords.
from hypothesis to a continuous cycle of research and experiments
Science Chromatic
Male Teacher Thinks About Solving Complex Mathematical Problem With Formula Written on the Transparent Board During Lecture with Diverse Students. University of Technology Concept. Point of View.
general-view of a chemistry laboratory with a lab table containing colorful liquids and lab tools and a blackboard on the background
A/B TEST Modern people doing business, graphs and charts being demonstrated on the screen of a touch-pad,blank screen copy space
Starling forces describe the movement of fluids between the vasculature and interstitial spaces.
Hypothesis text written on black school board with wooden frame.
Unidentified flying object, vector
Asian women scientist with test tube making research in clinical laboratory.Science, chemistry, technology, biology and people concept
photosynthesis, chemiosmosis, photosynthesis reactions, chemiosmotic hypothesis, light dependent photosynthesis
middle-aged man looking at the news about the global pandemic of the corona virus, analyzes perplexed information, conspiracy hypothesis about the epidemic, concern for business and health
Dopamine. two neurons (dopamine-producing and dopamine-receiving nerve cells), receptors, and synaptic cleft with dopamine.
puzzled student looking at a huge blackboard with a difficult equation, school concept
Theoretical phase of medical research abstract concept vector illustration set. Form a scientific hypothesis, experimental conditions setting, design experiment, scientific research abstract metaphor.
test tube, flask icon
What Is Hypothesis?
A scientific hypothesis is a foundational element of the scientific method . It’s a testable statement proposing a potential explanation for natural phenomena. The term hypothesis means “little theory” . A hypothesis is a short statement that can be tested and gives a possible reason for a phenomenon or a possible link between two variables . In the setting of scientific research, a hypothesis is a tentative explanation or statement that can be proven wrong and is used to guide experiments and empirical research.
It is an important part of the scientific method because it gives a basis for planning tests, gathering data, and judging evidence to see if it is true and could help us understand how natural things work. Several hypotheses can be tested in the real world, and the results of careful and systematic observation and analysis can be used to support, reject, or improve them.
Researchers and scientists often use the word hypothesis to refer to this educated guess . These hypotheses are firmly established based on scientific principles and the rigorous testing of new technology and experiments .
For example, in astrophysics, the Big Bang Theory is a working hypothesis that explains the origins of the universe and considers it as a natural phenomenon. It is among the most prominent scientific hypotheses in the field.
“The scientific method: steps, terms, and examples” by Scishow:
Biology definition: A hypothesis is a supposition or tentative explanation for (a group of) phenomena, (a set of) facts, or a scientific inquiry that may be tested, verified or answered by further investigation or methodological experiment. It is like a scientific guess . It’s an idea or prediction that scientists make before they do experiments. They use it to guess what might happen and then test it to see if they were right. It’s like a smart guess that helps them learn new things. A scientific hypothesis that has been verified through scientific experiment and research may well be considered a scientific theory .
Etymology: The word “hypothesis” comes from the Greek word “hupothesis,” which means “a basis” or “a supposition.” It combines “hupo” (under) and “thesis” (placing). Synonym: proposition; assumption; conjecture; postulate Compare: theory See also: null hypothesis
Characteristics Of Hypothesis
A useful hypothesis must have the following qualities:
- It should never be written as a question.
- You should be able to test it in the real world to see if it’s right or wrong.
- It needs to be clear and exact.
- It should list the factors that will be used to figure out the relationship.
- It should only talk about one thing. You can make a theory in either a descriptive or form of relationship.
- It shouldn’t go against any natural rule that everyone knows is true. Verification will be done well with the tools and methods that are available.
- It should be written in as simple a way as possible so that everyone can understand it.
- It must explain what happened to make an answer necessary.
- It should be testable in a fair amount of time.
- It shouldn’t say different things.
Sources Of Hypothesis
Sources of hypothesis are:
- Patterns of similarity between the phenomenon under investigation and existing hypotheses.
- Insights derived from prior research, concurrent observations, and insights from opposing perspectives.
- The formulations are derived from accepted scientific theories and proposed by researchers.
- In research, it’s essential to consider hypothesis as different subject areas may require various hypotheses (plural form of hypothesis). Researchers also establish a significance level to determine the strength of evidence supporting a hypothesis.
- Individual cognitive processes also contribute to the formation of hypotheses.
One hypothesis is a tentative explanation for an observation or phenomenon. It is based on prior knowledge and understanding of the world, and it can be tested by gathering and analyzing data. Observed facts are the data that are collected to test a hypothesis. They can support or refute the hypothesis.
For example, the hypothesis that “eating more fruits and vegetables will improve your health” can be tested by gathering data on the health of people who eat different amounts of fruits and vegetables. If the people who eat more fruits and vegetables are healthier than those who eat less fruits and vegetables, then the hypothesis is supported.
Hypotheses are essential for scientific inquiry. They help scientists to focus their research, to design experiments, and to interpret their results. They are also essential for the development of scientific theories.
Types Of Hypothesis
In research, you typically encounter two types of hypothesis: the alternative hypothesis (which proposes a relationship between variables) and the null hypothesis (which suggests no relationship).
Simple Hypothesis
It illustrates the association between one dependent variable and one independent variable. For instance, if you consume more vegetables, you will lose weight more quickly. Here, increasing vegetable consumption is the independent variable, while weight loss is the dependent variable.
Complex Hypothesis
It exhibits the relationship between at least two dependent variables and at least two independent variables. Eating more vegetables and fruits results in weight loss, radiant skin, and a decreased risk of numerous diseases, including heart disease.
Directional Hypothesis
It shows that a researcher wants to reach a certain goal. The way the factors are related can also tell us about their nature. For example, four-year-old children who eat well over a time of five years have a higher IQ than children who don’t eat well. This shows what happened and how it happened.
Non-directional Hypothesis
When there is no theory involved, it is used. It is a statement that there is a connection between two variables, but it doesn’t say what that relationship is or which way it goes.
Null Hypothesis
It says something that goes against the theory. It’s a statement that says something is not true, and there is no link between the independent and dependent factors. “H 0 ” represents the null hypothesis.
Associative and Causal Hypothesis
When a change in one variable causes a change in the other variable, this is called the associative hypothesis . The causal hypothesis, on the other hand, says that there is a cause-and-effect relationship between two or more factors.
Examples Of Hypothesis
Examples of simple hypotheses:
- Students who consume breakfast before taking a math test will have a better overall performance than students who do not consume breakfast.
- Students who experience test anxiety before an English examination will get lower scores than students who do not experience test anxiety.
- Motorists who talk on the phone while driving will be more likely to make errors on a driving course than those who do not talk on the phone, is a statement that suggests that drivers who talk on the phone while driving are more likely to make mistakes.
Examples of a complex hypothesis:
- Individuals who consume a lot of sugar and don’t get much exercise are at an increased risk of developing depression.
- Younger people who are routinely exposed to green, outdoor areas have better subjective well-being than older adults who have limited exposure to green spaces, according to a new study.
- Increased levels of air pollution led to higher rates of respiratory illnesses, which in turn resulted in increased costs for healthcare for the affected communities.
Examples of Directional Hypothesis:
- The crop yield will go up a lot if the amount of fertilizer is increased.
- Patients who have surgery and are exposed to more stress will need more time to get better.
- Increasing the frequency of brand advertising on social media will lead to a significant increase in brand awareness among the target audience.
Examples of Non-Directional Hypothesis (or Two-Tailed Hypothesis):
- The test scores of two groups of students are very different from each other.
- There is a link between gender and being happy at work.
- There is a correlation between the amount of caffeine an individual consumes and the speed with which they react.
Examples of a null hypothesis:
- Children who receive a new reading intervention will have scores that are different than students who do not receive the intervention.
- The results of a memory recall test will not reveal any significant gap in performance between children and adults.
- There is not a significant relationship between the number of hours spent playing video games and academic performance.
Examples of Associative Hypothesis:
- There is a link between how many hours you spend studying and how well you do in school.
- Drinking sugary drinks is bad for your health as a whole.
- There is an association between socioeconomic status and access to quality healthcare services in urban neighborhoods.
Functions Of Hypothesis
The research issue can be understood better with the help of a hypothesis, which is why developing one is crucial. The following are some of the specific roles that a hypothesis plays: (Rashid, Apr 20, 2022)
- A hypothesis gives a study a point of concentration. It enlightens us as to the specific characteristics of a study subject we need to look into.
- It instructs us on what data to acquire as well as what data we should not collect, giving the study a focal point .
- The development of a hypothesis improves objectivity since it enables the establishment of a focal point.
- A hypothesis makes it possible for us to contribute to the development of the theory. Because of this, we are in a position to definitively determine what is true and what is untrue .
How will Hypothesis help in the Scientific Method?
- The scientific method begins with observation and inquiry about the natural world when formulating research questions. Researchers can refine their observations and queries into specific, testable research questions with the aid of hypothesis. They provide an investigation with a focused starting point.
- Hypothesis generate specific predictions regarding the expected outcomes of experiments or observations. These forecasts are founded on the researcher’s current knowledge of the subject. They elucidate what researchers anticipate observing if the hypothesis is true.
- Hypothesis direct the design of experiments and data collection techniques. Researchers can use them to determine which variables to measure or manipulate, which data to obtain, and how to conduct systematic and controlled research.
- Following the formulation of a hypothesis and the design of an experiment, researchers collect data through observation, measurement, or experimentation. The collected data is used to verify the hypothesis’s predictions.
- Hypothesis establish the criteria for evaluating experiment results. The observed data are compared to the predictions generated by the hypothesis. This analysis helps determine whether empirical evidence supports or refutes the hypothesis.
- The results of experiments or observations are used to derive conclusions regarding the hypothesis. If the data support the predictions, then the hypothesis is supported. If this is not the case, the hypothesis may be revised or rejected, leading to the formulation of new queries and hypothesis.
- The scientific approach is iterative, resulting in new hypothesis and research issues from previous trials. This cycle of hypothesis generation, testing, and refining drives scientific progress.
Importance Of Hypothesis
- Hypothesis are testable statements that enable scientists to determine if their predictions are accurate. This assessment is essential to the scientific method, which is based on empirical evidence.
- Hypothesis serve as the foundation for designing experiments or data collection techniques. They can be used by researchers to develop protocols and procedures that will produce meaningful results.
- Hypothesis hold scientists accountable for their assertions. They establish expectations for what the research should reveal and enable others to assess the validity of the findings.
- Hypothesis aid in identifying the most important variables of a study. The variables can then be measured, manipulated, or analyzed to determine their relationships.
- Hypothesis assist researchers in allocating their resources efficiently. They ensure that time, money, and effort are spent investigating specific concerns, as opposed to exploring random concepts.
- Testing hypothesis contribute to the scientific body of knowledge. Whether or not a hypothesis is supported, the results contribute to our understanding of a phenomenon.
- Hypothesis can result in the creation of theories. When supported by substantive evidence, hypothesis can serve as the foundation for larger theoretical frameworks that explain complex phenomena.
- Beyond scientific research, hypothesis play a role in the solution of problems in a variety of domains. They enable professionals to make educated assumptions about the causes of problems and to devise solutions.
Research Hypotheses: Did you know that a hypothesis refers to an educated guess or prediction about the outcome of a research study?
It’s like a roadmap guiding researchers towards their destination of knowledge. Just like a compass points north, a well-crafted hypothesis points the way to valuable discoveries in the world of science and inquiry.
Choose the best answer.
Send Your Results (Optional)
Time is Up!
Further Reading
- RNA-DNA World Hypothesis
- BYJU’S. (2023). Hypothesis. Retrieved 01 Septermber 2023, from https://byjus.com/physics/hypothesis/#sources-of-hypothesis
- Collegedunia. (2023). Hypothesis. Retrieved 1 September 2023, from https://collegedunia.com/exams/hypothesis-science-articleid-7026#d
- Hussain, D. J. (2022). Hypothesis. Retrieved 01 September 2023, from https://mmhapu.ac.in/doc/eContent/Management/JamesHusain/Research%20Hypothesis%20-Meaning,%20Nature%20&%20Importance-Characteristics%20of%20Good%20%20Hypothesis%20Sem2.pdf
- Media, D. (2023). Hypothesis in the Scientific Method. Retrieved 01 September 2023, from https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-hypothesis-2795239#toc-hypotheses-examples
- Rashid, M. H. A. (Apr 20, 2022). Research Methodology. Retrieved 01 September 2023, from https://limbd.org/hypothesis-definitions-functions-characteristics-types-errors-the-process-of-testing-a-hypothesis-hypotheses-in-qualitative-research/#:~:text=Functions%20of%20a%20Hypothesis%3A&text=Specifically%2C%20a%20hypothesis%20serves%20the,providing%20focus%20to%20the%20study.
©BiologyOnline.com. Content provided and moderated by Biology Online Editors.
Last updated on September 8th, 2023
You will also like...
Gene Action – Operon Hypothesis
Water in Plants
Growth and Plant Hormones
Sigmund Freud and Carl Gustav Jung
Population Growth and Survivorship
Related articles....
RNA-DNA World Hypothesis?
On Mate Selection Evolution: Are intelligent males more attractive?
Actions of Caffeine in the Brain with Special Reference to Factors That Contribute to Its Widespread Use
Dead Man Walking
Advertisement
Three Famous Hypotheses and How They Were Tested
- Share Content on Facebook
- Share Content on LinkedIn
- Share Content on Flipboard
- Share Content on Reddit
- Share Content via Email
Key Takeaways
- Ivan Pavlov's experiment demonstrated conditioned responses in dogs.
- Pavlov's work exemplifies the scientific method, starting with a hypothesis about conditioned responses and testing it through controlled experiments.
- Pavlov's findings not only advanced an understanding of animal physiology but also laid foundational principles for behaviorism, a major school of thought in psychology that emphasizes the study of observable behaviors.
Coho salmon ( Oncorhynchus kisutch ) are amazing fish. Indigenous to the Pacific Northwest, they begin their lives in freshwater streams and then relocate to the open ocean. But when a Coho salmon reaches breeding age, it'll return to the waterway of its birth , sometimes traveling 400 miles (644 kilometers) to get there.
Enter the late Arthur Davis Hasler. While an ecologist and biologist at the University of Wisconsin, he was intrigued by the question of how these creatures find their home streams. And in 1960, he used a Hypothesis-Presentation.pdf">basic tenet of science — the hypothesis — to find out.
So what is a hypothesis? A hypothesis is a tentative, testable explanation for an observed phenomenon in nature. Hypotheses are narrow in scope — unlike theories , which cover a broad range of observable phenomena and draw from many different lines of evidence. Meanwhile, a prediction is a result you'd expect to get if your hypothesis or theory is accurate.
So back to 1960 and Hasler and those salmon. One unverified idea was that Coho salmon used eyesight to locate their home streams. Hasler set out to test this notion (or hypothesis). First, he rounded up several fish who'd already returned to their native streams. Next, he blindfolded some of the captives — but not all of them — before dumping his salmon into a faraway stretch of water. If the eyesight hypothesis was correct, then Hasler could expect fewer of the blindfolded fish to return to their home streams.
Things didn't work out that way. The fish without blindfolds came back at the same rate as their blindfolded counterparts. (Other experiments demonstrated that smell, and not sight, is the key to the species' homing ability.)
Although Hasler's blindfold hypothesis was disproven, others have fared better. Today, we're looking at three of the best-known experiments in history — and the hypotheses they tested.
Ivan Pavlov and His Dogs (1903-1935)
Isaac newton's radiant prisms (1665), robert paine's revealing starfish (1963-1969).
The Hypothesis : If dogs are susceptible to conditioned responses (drooling), then a dog who is regularly exposed to the same neutral stimulus (metronome/bell) before it receives food will associate this neutral stimulus with the act of eating. Eventually, the dog should begin to drool at a predictable rate when it encounters said stimulus — even before any actual food is offered.
The Experiment : A Nobel Prize-winner and outspoken critic of Soviet communism, Ivan Pavlov is synonymous with man's best friend . In 1903, the Russian-born scientist kicked off a decades-long series of experiments involving dogs and conditioned responses .
Offer a plate of food to a hungry dog and it'll salivate. In this context, the stimulus (the food) will automatically trigger a particular response (the drooling). The latter is an innate, unlearned reaction to the former.
By contrast, the rhythmic sound of a metronome or bell is a neutral stimulus. To a dog, the noise has no inherent meaning and if the animal has never heard it before, the sound won't provoke an instinctive reaction. But the sight of food sure will .
So when Pavlov and his lab assistants played the sound of the metronome/bell before feeding sessions, the researchers conditioned test dogs to mentally link metronomes/bells with mealtime. Due to repeated exposure, the noise alone started to make the dogs' mouths water before they were given food.
According to " Ivan Pavlov: A Russian Life in Science " by biographer Daniel P. Todes, Pavlov's big innovation here was his discovery that he could quantify the reaction of each pooch by measuring the amount of saliva it generated. Every canine predictably drooled at its own consistent rate when he or she encountered a personalized (and artificial) food-related cue.
Pavlov and his assistants used conditioned responses to look at other hypotheses about animal physiology, as well. In one notable experiment, a dog was tested on its ability to tell time . This particular pooch always received food when it heard a metronome click at the rate of 60 strokes per minute. But it never got any food after listening to a slower, 40-strokes-per-minute beat. Lo and behold, Pavlov's animal began to salivate in response to the faster rhythm — but not the slower one . So clearly, it could tell the two rhythmic beats apart.
The Verdict : With the right conditioning — and lots of patience — you can make a hungry dog respond to neutral stimuli by salivating on cue in a way that's both predictable and scientifically quantifiable.
The Hypothesis : If white sunlight is a mixture of all the colors in the visible spectrum — and these travel at varying wavelengths — then each color will refract at a different angle when a beam of sunlight passes through a glass prism.
The Experiments : Color was a scientific mystery before Isaac Newton came along. During the summer of 1665, he started experimenting with glass prisms from the safety of a darkened room in Cambridge, England.
He cut a quarter-inch (0.63-centimeter) circular hole into one of the window shutters, allowing a single beam of sunlight to enter the place. When Newton held up a prism to this ray, an oblong patch of multicolored light was projected onto the opposite wall.
This contained segregated layers of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet light. From top to bottom, this patch measured 13.5 inches (33.65 centimeters) tall, yet it was only 2.6 inches (6.6 centimeters) across.
Newton deduced that these vibrant colors had been hiding within the sunlight itself, but the prism bent (or "refracted") them at different angles, which separated the colors out.
Still, he wasn't 100 percent sure. So Newton replicated the experiment with one small change. This time, he took a second prism and had it intercept the rainbow-like patch of light. Once the refracted colors entered the new prism, they recombined into a circular white sunbeam. In other words, Newton took a ray of white light, broke it apart into a bunch of different colors and then reassembled it. What a neat party trick!
The Verdict : Sunlight really is a blend of all the colors in the rainbow — and yes, these can be individually separated via light refraction.
The Hypothesis : If predators limit the populations of the organisms they attack, then we'd expect the prey species to become more common after the eradication of a major predator.
The Experiment : Meet Pisaster ochraceus , also known as the purple sea star (or the purple starfish if you prefer).
Using an extendable stomach , the creature feeds on mussels, limpets, barnacles, snails and other hapless victims. On some seaside rocks (and tidal pools) along the coast of Washington state, this starfish is the apex predator.
The animal made Robert Paine a scientific celebrity. An ecologist by trade, Paine was fascinated by the environmental roles of top predators. In June 1963, he kicked off an ambitious experiment along Washington state's Mukkaw Bay. For years on end, Paine kept a rocky section of this shoreline completely starfish-free.
It was hard work. Paine had to regularly pry wayward sea stars off "his" outcrop — sometimes with a crowbar. Then he'd chuck them into the ocean.
Before the experiment, Paine observed 15 different species of animals and algae inhabiting the area he decided to test. By June 1964 — one year after his starfish purge started — that number had dropped to eight .
Unchecked by purple sea stars, the barnacle population skyrocketed. Subsequently, these were replaced by California mussels , which came to dominate the terrain. By anchoring themselves to rocks in great numbers, the mussels edged out other life-forms. That made the outcrop uninhabitable to most former residents: Even sponges, anemones and algae — organisms that Pisaster ochraceus doesn't eat — were largely evicted.
All those species continued to thrive on another piece of shoreline that Paine left untouched. Later experiments convinced him that Pisaster ochraceus is a " keystone species ," a creature who exerts disproportionate influence over its environment. Eliminate the keystone and the whole system gets disheveled.
The Verdict : Apex predators don't just affect the animals that they hunt. Removing a top predator sets off a chain reaction that can fundamentally transform an entire ecosystem.
Contrary to popular belief, Pavlov almost never used bells in his dog experiments. Instead, he preferred metronomes, buzzers, harmoniums and electric shocks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can a hypothesis become a theory, what's the difference between a hypothesis and a prediction.
Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks.com article:
- Skip to primary navigation
- Skip to main content
- Skip to footer
Understanding Science
How science REALLY works...
A proposed explanation for a fairly narrow set of phenomena, usually based on prior experience, scientific background knowledge, preliminary observations, and logic. To learn more, visit Science at multiple levels .
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Understanding Science 101
- The science flowchart
- Science stories
- Grade-level teaching guides
- Teaching resource database
- Journaling tool
- Misconceptions
What Are Examples of a Hypothesis?
- Scientific Method
- Chemical Laws
- Periodic Table
- Projects & Experiments
- Biochemistry
- Physical Chemistry
- Medical Chemistry
- Chemistry In Everyday Life
- Famous Chemists
- Activities for Kids
- Abbreviations & Acronyms
- Weather & Climate
- Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
- B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College
A hypothesis is an explanation for a set of observations. Here are examples of a scientific hypothesis.
Although you could state a scientific hypothesis in various ways, most hypotheses are either "If, then" statements or forms of the null hypothesis . The null hypothesis is sometimes called the "no difference" hypothesis. The null hypothesis is good for experimentation because it's simple to disprove. If you disprove a null hypothesis, that is evidence for a relationship between the variables you are examining.
Examples of Null Hypotheses
- 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 If, Then Hypotheses
- 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.
Premium Access
Custom content, media manager.
Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internet’s creators.
zoo hypothesis
Hypothesis graphic, hypothesis testing, hypothesis test, value hypothesis, hypothesis icon, medical hypothesis, science hypothesis, 849 hypothesis stock photos & high-res pictures, browse 849 authentic hypothesis stock photos, high-res images, and pictures, or explore additional zoo hypothesis or hypothesis graphic stock images to find the right photo at the right size and resolution for your project..
Suggestions or feedback?
MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Machine learning
- Social justice
- Black holes
- Classes and programs
Departments
- Aeronautics and Astronautics
- Brain and Cognitive Sciences
- Architecture
- Political Science
- Mechanical Engineering
Centers, Labs, & Programs
- Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL)
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory
- Lincoln Laboratory
- School of Architecture + Planning
- School of Engineering
- School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences
- Sloan School of Management
- School of Science
- MIT Schwarzman College of Computing
AI generates high-quality images 30 times faster in a single step
Press contact :.
Previous image Next image
In our current age of artificial intelligence, computers can generate their own “art” by way of diffusion models , iteratively adding structure to a noisy initial state until a clear image or video emerges. Diffusion models have suddenly grabbed a seat at everyone’s table: Enter a few words and experience instantaneous, dopamine-spiking dreamscapes at the intersection of reality and fantasy. Behind the scenes, it involves a complex, time-intensive process requiring numerous iterations for the algorithm to perfect the image.
MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) researchers have introduced a new framework that simplifies the multi-step process of traditional diffusion models into a single step, addressing previous limitations. This is done through a type of teacher-student model: teaching a new computer model to mimic the behavior of more complicated, original models that generate images. The approach, known as distribution matching distillation (DMD), retains the quality of the generated images and allows for much faster generation.
“Our work is a novel method that accelerates current diffusion models such as Stable Diffusion and DALLE-3 by 30 times,” says Tianwei Yin, an MIT PhD student in electrical engineering and computer science, CSAIL affiliate, and the lead researcher on the DMD framework. “This advancement not only significantly reduces computational time but also retains, if not surpasses, the quality of the generated visual content. Theoretically, the approach marries the principles of generative adversarial networks (GANs) with those of diffusion models, achieving visual content generation in a single step — a stark contrast to the hundred steps of iterative refinement required by current diffusion models. It could potentially be a new generative modeling method that excels in speed and quality.”
This single-step diffusion model could enhance design tools, enabling quicker content creation and potentially supporting advancements in drug discovery and 3D modeling, where promptness and efficacy are key.
Distribution dreams
DMD cleverly has two components. First, it uses a regression loss, which anchors the mapping to ensure a coarse organization of the space of images to make training more stable. Next, it uses a distribution matching loss, which ensures that the probability to generate a given image with the student model corresponds to its real-world occurrence frequency. To do this, it leverages two diffusion models that act as guides, helping the system understand the difference between real and generated images and making training the speedy one-step generator possible.
The system achieves faster generation by training a new network to minimize the distribution divergence between its generated images and those from the training dataset used by traditional diffusion models. “Our key insight is to approximate gradients that guide the improvement of the new model using two diffusion models,” says Yin. “In this way, we distill the knowledge of the original, more complex model into the simpler, faster one, while bypassing the notorious instability and mode collapse issues in GANs.”
Yin and colleagues used pre-trained networks for the new student model, simplifying the process. By copying and fine-tuning parameters from the original models, the team achieved fast training convergence of the new model, which is capable of producing high-quality images with the same architectural foundation. “This enables combining with other system optimizations based on the original architecture to further accelerate the creation process,” adds Yin.
When put to the test against the usual methods, using a wide range of benchmarks, DMD showed consistent performance. On the popular benchmark of generating images based on specific classes on ImageNet, DMD is the first one-step diffusion technique that churns out pictures pretty much on par with those from the original, more complex models, rocking a super-close Fréchet inception distance (FID) score of just 0.3, which is impressive, since FID is all about judging the quality and diversity of generated images. Furthermore, DMD excels in industrial-scale text-to-image generation and achieves state-of-the-art one-step generation performance. There's still a slight quality gap when tackling trickier text-to-image applications, suggesting there's a bit of room for improvement down the line.
Additionally, the performance of the DMD-generated images is intrinsically linked to the capabilities of the teacher model used during the distillation process. In the current form, which uses Stable Diffusion v1.5 as the teacher model, the student inherits limitations such as rendering detailed depictions of text and small faces, suggesting that DMD-generated images could be further enhanced by more advanced teacher models.
“Decreasing the number of iterations has been the Holy Grail in diffusion models since their inception,” says Fredo Durand, MIT professor of electrical engineering and computer science, CSAIL principal investigator, and a lead author on the paper. “We are very excited to finally enable single-step image generation, which will dramatically reduce compute costs and accelerate the process.”
“Finally, a paper that successfully combines the versatility and high visual quality of diffusion models with the real-time performance of GANs,” says Alexei Efros, a professor of electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California at Berkeley who was not involved in this study. “I expect this work to open up fantastic possibilities for high-quality real-time visual editing.”
Yin and Durand’s fellow authors are MIT electrical engineering and computer science professor and CSAIL principal investigator William T. Freeman, as well as Adobe research scientists Michaël Gharbi SM '15, PhD '18; Richard Zhang; Eli Shechtman; and Taesung Park. Their work was supported, in part, by U.S. National Science Foundation grants (including one for the Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Fundamental Interactions), the Singapore Defense Science and Technology Agency, and by funding from Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology and Amazon. Their work will be presented at the Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition in June.
Share this news article on:
Related links.
- DMD project page
- Fredo Durand
- William Freeman
- Tianwei Yin
- Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL)
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Related Topics
- Artificial intelligence
- Electrical Engineering & Computer Science (eecs)
- Computer vision
- Computer science and technology
Related Articles
New algorithm unlocks high-resolution insights for computer vision
Helping computer vision and language models understand what they see
Computer vision system marries image recognition and generation
Previous item Next item
More MIT News
Study: Movement disorder ALS and cognitive disorder FTLD show strong molecular overlaps
Read full story →
Students explore career opportunities in semiconductors
For MIT students, there is much to learn from crafting a chair
A new way to quantify climate change impacts: “Outdoor days”
Think globally, rebuild locally
Understanding the impacts of mining on local environments and communities
- More news on MIT News homepage →
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Map (opens in new window)
- Events (opens in new window)
- People (opens in new window)
- Careers (opens in new window)
- Accessibility
- Social Media Hub
- MIT on Facebook
- MIT on YouTube
- MIT on Instagram
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Countless hypotheses have been developed and tested throughout the history of science.Several examples include the idea that living organisms develop from nonliving matter, which formed the basis of spontaneous generation, a hypothesis that ultimately was disproved (first in 1668, with the experiments of Italian physician Francesco Redi, and later in 1859, with the experiments of French ...
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.
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.
The scientific method. At the core of biology and other sciences lies a problem-solving approach called the scientific method. The scientific method has five basic steps, plus one feedback step: Make an observation. Ask a question. Form a hypothesis, or testable explanation. Make a prediction based on the hypothesis.
The six steps of the scientific method include: 1) asking a question about something you observe, 2) doing background research to learn what is already known about the topic, 3) constructing a hypothesis, 4) experimenting to test the hypothesis, 5) analyzing the data from the experiment and drawing conclusions, and 6) communicating the results ...
Bibliography. A scientific hypothesis is a tentative, testable explanation for a phenomenon in the natural world. It's the initial building block in the scientific method. Many describe it as an ...
The use of visual communication techniques in scientific research can manifest in the use of maps, symbols, pictorial images, photography or video (or an expressional combination of any or all of these), with or without texts. ... This study argues fervently that the use of a hypothesis in science is not in any way limited to quantitative ...
Building a scientific argument - cartoon 1. Scientific arguments involve three components: the idea (a hypothesis or theory), the expectations generated by that idea (frequently called predictions), and the actual observations relevant to those expectations (the evidence). View details ».
A hypothesis is an explanation that is proposed for a phenomenon. Formulating a hypothesis is a step of the scientific method . Examples: Upon observing that a lake appears blue under a blue sky, you might propose the hypothesis that the lake is blue because it is reflecting the sky. One alternate hypothesis would be that the lake is blue ...
Browse Getty Images' premium collection of high-quality, authentic Science Hypothesis stock photos, royalty-free images, and pictures. Science Hypothesis stock photos are available in a variety of sizes and formats to fit your needs.
A hypothesis is a testable statement or educated guess that serves as the basis for scientific investigation or research and essential part of the scientific method. A close-up of a business textbook with the term 'hypothesis' highlighted and focused. Young woman prepares samples for the study of diseased human cell.
Scientific Hypothesis Examples . Hypothesis: All forks have three tines. This would be disproven if you find any fork with a different number of tines. Hypothesis: There is no relationship between smoking and lung cancer.While it is difficult to establish cause and effect in health issues, you can apply statistics to data to discredit or support this hypothesis.
A hypothesis is a tentative, testable answer to a scientific question. Once a scientist has a scientific question she is interested in, the scientist reads up to find out what is already known on the topic. Then she uses that information to form a tentative answer to her scientific question. Sometimes people refer to the tentative answer as "an ...
Keep in mind that writing the hypothesis is an early step in the process of doing a science project. The steps below form the basic outline of the Scientific Method: Ask a Question. Do Background Research. Construct a Hypothesis. Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment. Analyze Your Data and Draw a Conclusion.
A hypothesis is a supposition or tentative explanation for (a group of) phenomena, (a set of) facts, or a scientific inquiry that may be tested, verified or answered by further investigation or methodological experiment. It is like a scientific guess. It's an idea or prediction that scientists make before they do experiments.
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 ...
Although Hasler's blindfold hypothesis was disproven, others have fared better. Today, we're looking at three of the best-known experiments in history — and the hypotheses they tested. Contents. Ivan Pavlov and His Dogs (1903-1935) Isaac Newton's Radiant Prisms (1665) Robert Paine's Revealing Starfish (1963-1969)
One—an image in the Nature paper displaying purified Aβ*56—shows "very worrisome" signs of tampering, Selkoe says. The same image reappeared in a different paper, co-authored by Lesné and Ashe, 5 years later. Many other images in Lesné's papers might be improper—more than enough to challenge the body of work, Selkoe adds.
hypothesis. A proposed explanation for a fairly narrow set of phenomena, usually based on prior experience, scientific background knowledge, preliminary observations, and logic. To learn more, visit Science at multiple levels.
Examples of If, Then Hypotheses. 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.
Hypothesis Blue Half Circular Bulbs Badge Style Hypothesis concept image with text and bulbs symbols. hypothesis stock illustrations. ... Hypothesis A side-view shot of female scientists working in a laboratory, one woman is holding a laptop while they talk science in Perth, Australia. hypothesis stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images.
Browse 830 authentic hypothesis stock photos, high-res images, and pictures, or explore additional zoo hypothesis or hypothesis graphic stock images to find the right photo at the right size and resolution for your project. Testing a new hypothesis. The Laplace's Nebula Hypothesis. Pierre-Simon Laplace's nebula hypothesis.
AI-generated images of ancient lifeforms or fossils can mislead both scientists and the public, he adds. "It's inaccurate, all it does is copy existing things and it can't actually go out ...
In our current age of artificial intelligence, computers can generate their own "art" by way of diffusion models, iteratively adding structure to a noisy initial state until a clear image or video emerges.Diffusion models have suddenly grabbed a seat at everyone's table: Enter a few words and experience instantaneous, dopamine-spiking dreamscapes at the intersection of reality and fantasy.