COMMENTS

  1. 2.1 Approaches to Sociological Research

    A hypothesis is an explanation for a phenomenon based on a conjecture about the relationship between the phenomenon and one or more causal factors. In sociology, the hypothesis will often predict how one form of human behavior influences another. For example, a hypothesis might be in the form of an "if, then statement."

  2. Hypotheses

    18. Hypotheses. When researchers do not have predictions about what they will find, they conduct research to answer a question or questions, with an open-minded desire to know about a topic, or to help develop hypotheses for later testing. In other situations, the purpose of research is to test a specific hypothesis or hypotheses.

  3. Hypothesis: Functions, Problems, Types, Characteristics, Examples

    The Function of the Hypotheses. A hypothesis states what one is looking for in an experiment. When facts are assembled, ordered, and seen in a relationship, they build up to become a theory. This theory needs to be deduced for further confirmation of the facts, this formulation of the deductions constitutes of a hypothesis.

  4. Chapter 2. Sociological Research

    Approaches to Sociological Research. Using the scientific method, a researcher conducts a study in five phases: asking a question, researching existing sources, formulating a hypothesis, conducting a study, and drawing conclusions. The scientific method is useful in that it provides a clear method of organizing a study.

  5. hypothesis definition

    Definition of Hypothesis (noun) A proposed and testable explanation between two or more variables that predicts an outcome or explains a phenomenon.Examples of Hypothesis "I think the more time students spend studying prior to a test the higher their grade will be.". Note: The variables are the students, the time spent studying, and the test grades. . To test the hypothesis, collect ...

  6. 1.3 Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology

    In sociology, a theory is a way to explain different aspects of social interactions and to create a testable proposition, called a hypothesis, about society (Allan 2006). For example, although suicide is generally considered an individual phenomenon, Émile Durkheim was interested in studying the social factors that affect it.

  7. How to Form a Hypothesis in Sociology

    The hypothesis is the basis for scientific inquiry. A hypothesis is like a thesis statement, in that it is a summation of the focus and purpose of your research. Sociology, like other social sciences that study the complex workings of society, produces findings that are open to interpretation, often expressed as statistics.

  8. Hypothesis and its Types

    A complex hypothesis is a hypothesis that reflects a relationship among more than two variables. Examples: Higher the poverty, higher the illiteracy in society, higher will be the rate of crime (three variables - two independent variables and one dependent variable).; Higher the use of fertilizers, improved seeds, and modern equipments, higher would be the agricultural productivity (Four ...

  9. What a Hypothesis Is and How to Formulate One

    What it is and how it's used in sociology. A hypothesis is a prediction of what will be found at the outcome of a research project and is typically focused on the relationship between two different variables studied in the research. It is usually based on both theoretical expectations about how things work and already existing scientific evidence.

  10. What is a Hypothesis

    Sociology: In sociology, hypotheses are used to test theories and models of social phenomena, such as the effects of social structures or institutions on human behavior. For example, a hypothesis might be formulated to test the effects of income inequality on crime rates. ... For example, a hypothesis might be that a new product will sell well ...

  11. How to Write a Strong Hypothesis

    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. If a first-year student starts attending more lectures, then their exam scores will improve.

  12. Theories and Hypotheses

    Theories are constructed by examining the results of research and repeated observations. Researchers begin with a theory, and end by noting how their findings add to that theory, or set of theories. A hypothesis is an educated guess about how two or more things are related. It might be based on our informal observations and life experiences.

  13. Research Hypothesis: Definition, Types, Examples and Quick Tips

    Simple hypothesis. A simple hypothesis is a statement made to reflect the relation between exactly two variables. One independent and one dependent. Consider the example, "Smoking is a prominent cause of lung cancer." The dependent variable, lung cancer, is dependent on the independent variable, smoking. 4.

  14. Hypothesis

    Hypothesis. A hypothesis is a statement that is then tested through research. A hypothesis usually consists of what the researcher thinks to be the case, and the purpose of the research is to discover whether she/he was correct. It is a feature of scientific research methodology. Some interpretivist sociologists prefer to use an aim rather than ...

  15. The Main Sociological Theories

    A sociological theory seeks to explain social phenomena. Theories can be used to create a testable proposition, called a hypothesis, about society (Allan 2006). Theories vary in scope depending on the scale of the issues that they are meant to explain. Macro-level theories relate to large-scale issues and large groups of people, while micro ...

  16. 2.2 Research Methods

    A real-life example will help illustrate the process. In 1971, Frances Heussenstamm, a sociology professor at California State University at Los Angeles, had a theory about police prejudice. To test her theory, she conducted research. She chose fifteen students from three ethnic backgrounds: Black, White, and Hispanic.

  17. Approaches to Sociological Research

    A hypothesis is an assumption about how two or more variables are related; it makes a conjectural statement about the relationship between those variables. In sociology, the hypothesis will often predict how one form of human behavior influences another. In research, independent variables are the cause of the change.

  18. Theory vs. Hypothesis: Basics of the Scientific Method

    See why leading organizations rely on MasterClass for learning & development. Though you may hear the terms "theory" and "hypothesis" used interchangeably, these two scientific terms have drastically different meanings in the world of science.