How to Write a Hypothesis
Member 
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need:
·
Pen
·
Paper
1.
Step 1
Come up with an idea for an experiment if you don't already have
one or if one has not been assigned to you. Try to think of things that you
expect to be able to test and definitively prove one way or another.
2. Step 2
Determine the central question of your experiment in your own
words. If you feel as though you need to conduct additional research to make an
educated guess as to the answer of this question, do this research first. If
not, write your prediction in your own words.
3. Step 3
Verify that the prediction is provable and measurable. If it is,
identify the independent and dependent variables. The independent variable is
the element of your experiment that you will change. The dependent variable is
the element of your experiment that you expect to change as a result of
changing your independent variable.
4. Step 4
Reword your hypothesis as an if-then statement using your
independent and dependent variables, and make sure it states your prediction,
not the question. For example, if your experiment involves testing to see if
bleach kills grass and your prediction is that bleach will kill grass, you
might state your hypothesis as: "If bleach is applied to grass, then the
grass will die." In this case, the application of bleach is your
independent variable and the life of the grass is your dependent variable.
How to Write a Good Hypothesis
Contributor Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions
1. Step 1
Determine the topic and the application for your hypothesis. Are
you interested in bone structure and want to conduct a science experiment? Or
are you interested in political theory and want to write a paper? The topic
determines what your hypothesis is about, and the application tells you how to
word your hypothesis.
2. Step 2
Narrow your topic down from general to specific, broad to
narrow. You want the particulars of the topic you wish to investigate and you
want to bring the topic down to a size you can handle. Whether you are dealing
in abstract ideas or with tangible research, you can't conquer the world all at
once. Break it down into one-step-at-a-time sized pieces.
3. Step 3
A good hypothesis is your assumption or explanation of why or
how something occurs. You are proposing an explanation or defending an argument.
In order to determine your answer (your hypothesis), first determine your
question. What question do you want to answer by this experiment, research or
essay? Let's take for our purposes this (somewhat facetious) question:
"Why do people get bad haircuts?"
4. Step 4
Decide what your answer to the question is. Why do people get
bad haircuts? Is it because they can't afford to go to a great salon? Perhaps
they don't know they have bad haircuts? Or is a bad haircut is only a matter of
preference? Write down your best answer to the question you have proposed.
5. Step 5
A good hypothesis is simple and concise. Look at the answer you
have written--that is--your current hypothesis. Is it wordy? Cluttered up with
unnecessary adjectives? Confusing? Wishy washy? Reword as needed to form a
statement that is brief and understandable. "People end up with really bad
haircuts because they don't know that they have bad haircuts and don't know how
to get good ones" can become "People have bad haircuts because they
don't recognize good haircuts."
6. Step 6
A good hypothesis take a clear side. Your following research or
writing will determine if the side you chose is the right one; at this point,
the purpose of your hypothesis is to make your claim boldly. So don't tiptoe
around. Decide what you think, and say it. If your current hypothesis is
dancing around the real heart of what you think, trim it up and work it over
until it says what you mean to say.
7. Step 7
A good hypothesis uses clearly defined terms. If any of the
terms you are using in your hypothesis are ambiguous, either reword or include
a brief clarification of what you mean by the particular term. "People
have bad haircuts (unflattering or unkempt) because they don't recognize good
haircuts."
8. Step 8
A good hypothesis is testable. If there's no way to go out and
test the truth of the statement you are making, it won't work as a hypothesis.
If you can test it, it will work. A testable hypothesis gives you direct
guidance for your next steps in completing your project. Once you determine
that your hypothesis
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