Research hypothesis

The research hypotheses are primarily characterized by the fact that they contain theoretical constructs that cannot always be observed directly. The research hypothesis is not only determined by its direct connection to empirical research and its academic context, because it “deals with specific connections, changes and differences in research subjects”.

Characteristics of the research hypothesis (s)

Research hypotheses are the basis for any scientific theory. “With the inductive approach, general statements are derived from individual observations. If hypotheses are sufficiently secured and form a system, this is called a theory. A theory is based on hypotheses (inductive approach) and is the basis for deriving hypotheses (deductive approach). "

The research hypothesis always requires empirical work. Toellner-Bauer comments on this: “According to Popper, theories consist of a system of non-contradicting hypotheses and statements. Empirical research is tasked with testing these theories and answering the question of the extent to which hypotheses, i.e. general assumptions, can be confirmed by the application of certain rules in the (empirical) reality that can be experienced. "

In contrast to the natural sciences, it is hardly possible to formulate deterministic hypotheses in the social sciences. For this reason, the research hypothesis is the rule rather than the exception in this discipline.

Differentiation from the general hypothesis term

Most hypotheses are characterized by the fact that they generate provisional answers. The research hypothesis is generated inductively as well as deductively. However, it is transferred to a statistical level in order to eliminate the potential for error caused by the limitations of data collection. It also includes the relationships between constructs that cannot be directly observed. The research hypothesis is thus characterized primarily by its theoretical and empirically based character.

Critical views on the research hypothesis

With regard to scientific hypotheses, there have been critical voices over the course of history, up to and including the demand for a hypothesis-free science in positivism. Karl R. Popper is one of the greatest critics of scientific hypotheses. According to Popper, all assumptions that can be checked empirically without contradiction become theories. Hypotheses are derived from this theory using “deductive logic”. Deductive logic here means the hypotheses that have arisen from clear rules of understanding and connection. With deductive logic, no new knowledge is gained, but already known knowledge is examined for its knowledge content. Popper himself put it: “What we call laws are hypotheses that ... can never be tested in isolation. (...) No particular theory can be regarded as absolutely certain. "

Individual evidence

1. ^ P. Wilhelm: From the formulation to the evaluation of hypotheses. (PDF) Retrieved June 12, 2017 . 
2. ↑ Basics and methods of empirical social research - medical psychology and sociology. February 1, 2017, accessed June 3, 2017 . 
3. ↑ Prof. Dr. U. Toellner-Bauer: Methods of gaining knowledge. (PDF) Retrieved June 4, 2017 . 
4. ↑ Andreas Lorenz: Certainty versus Hypothesis. (PDF) June 25, 2001, accessed June 10, 2017 . 
5. ↑ Jörg Jacobs: Introduction to the Methods of Empirical Social Research. (PDF) Retrieved June 8, 2017 . 
6. ↑ Qualitative social research. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on June 18, 2017 ; accessed on June 6, 2017 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
7. ↑ Popper, Karl R .: Objective Knowledge: An Evolutionary Design . Ed .: Hoffmann and Campe. Hamburg 1993, ISBN 978-3-455-10306-9 , pp. 432 .