Research Methodology

OV313
Dr Anantha Krishnan
Hypothesis and Theory

• Class 2

Tuesday, September 26, 2023 2

Hypothesis
• A statement of the relationship one expect to find as a
result of the research.

• Hypothesis is stated before the data collection.

• Use of word ‘support’, not ‘prove’.

• Helps researchers to relate theory to observations.

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Characteristics Hypothesis (Example
1)
• Research Question: If plants of the genus “Daucus” are
exposed to sunlight, then their growth will be greater
compared to plants of genus “Daucus” kept in the shade.

• Testability: testable by conducting an experiment where

some plants are exposed to sunlight while others are not.

• Falsifiability: If the plants exposed to sunlight do not show

significantly different growth compared to the plants kept
in the shade, the hypothesis can be refuted.

• Specificity: The hypothesis specifically proposes that

exposure to sunlight affects the growth of a particular type
of plant.

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Characteristics Hypothesis (Example
1)
• Clarity: The language used is clear and straightforward,
avoiding ambiguity.

• Based on Prior Knowledge: This hypothesis builds on

existing knowledge that sunlight is essential for plant
growth due to photosynthesis

• Logical Consistency: It aligns with the known relationship

between sunlight and plant growth.

• Observable and Measurable: The growth of the plants can

be measured in terms of height, number of leaves, or other
relevant metrics.

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Characteristics Hypothesis (Example
2)
• Poor Research Question: Love is the most powerful force
in the universe.

• Testability: This statement is not testable through

empirical observation or experimentation. "Love" is
subjective and lacks a clear and measurable definition for
scientific testing.

• Falsifiability: Poor Example: "Parallel universes exist, but

they are completely isolated from our universe and cannot
be detected or observed by any means."
• Explanation: This hypothesis is not falsifiable because it
claims that these parallel universes are entirely
inaccessible and undetectable.

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Characteristics Hypothesis (Example
2)
• Specificity: Poor Example: "Climate change affects things."
• Explanation: This hypothesis lacks specificity, as it does not
clearly define what aspects of "things" are affected by
climate change.

• Clarity: Poor Example: "The results of the experiment were

kinda interesting."
• Explanation: The language used is vague and lacks clarity
about what specifically was interesting about the results.

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Characteristics Hypothesis (Example
2)
• Based on Prior Knowledge: Poor Example: "Unicorns cause
rainbows to appear."
• Explanation: This hypothesis lacks grounding in established
scientific principles and relies on a mythical concept.

• Logical Consistency: Poor Example: "Hot water freezes

faster than cold water because it's hotter."
• Explanation: This hypothesis contradicts established
principles of thermodynamics. Hot water actually takes
longer to freeze due to energy dissipation.

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Null and Alternate Hypothesis
• Null Hypothesis: The null hypothesis (often denoted as H₀)
is a statement of no effect or no difference. It is a
hypothesis that suggests there is no significant
relationship, effect, or change in the variables being
studied. In statistical hypothesis testing, researchers
assume the null hypothesis to be true initially and then
seek evidence to either support or reject it.

• Example: Imagine you're testing a new fertilizer to see if it

makes plants grow faster. The null hypothesis could be that
the fertilizer has no effect on plant growth. This means that
any differences you see in the growth of plants could be
purely random and not really caused by the fertilizer.

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Null and Alternate Hypothesis
• Alternate Hypothesis: The alternate hypothesis (often
denoted as H₁ or Ha) is a statement that contradicts the
null hypothesis. It proposes a specific effect, relationship,
or change in the variables being studied. It is what the
researcher aims to demonstrate or find evidence for during
a scientific investigation.

• Example: Building on the fertilizer test, the alternate

hypothesis could state that the new fertilizer indeed makes
plants grow faster. This is what you're trying to find
evidence for during your experiment – the idea that the
fertilizer has a real impact on plant growth.

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Rutherford’s Golden Foil Experiment
• Previous Idea: “Thomson's model
proposed that the atom was a
uniform, positively charged
sphere with negatively charged
electrons embedded in it,
somewhat like "raisins" in a
"plum pudding."

• Null Hypothesis: There would be

no significant differences in the
behavior of the alpha particles as
they pass through the gold foil,
and any deviations from this
behavior would be due to
random experimental errors
rather than any inherent
characteristics of the atom's
structure.
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Rutherford’s Golden Foil Experiment
• Previous Idea: “Thomson's
model proposed that the atom
was a uniform, positively
charged sphere with negatively
charged electrons embedded in
it, somewhat like "raisins" in a
"plum pudding."

• Alternate Hypothesis: The

alternate hypothesis was that the
behaviour of the alpha particles
would deviate from the
predictions of the plum pudding
model

Tuesday, September 26, 2023 12

Rutherford’s Golden Foil Experiment
• New Idea: The experimental
results of the gold foil experiment
supported the alternate
hypothesis.

• The fact that a small fraction of

alpha particles were deflected at
large angles and some were even
reflected back toward the source
indicated the presence of a dense
and positively charged nucleus at
the center of the atom. This led to
the development of Rutherford's
nuclear model of the atom, which
replaced the earlier plum pudding
model and fundamentally
changed our understanding of
atomic structure.

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Theory
• A scientific theory is a well-substantiated and
comprehensive explanation of some aspect of the natural
world that is based on a body of evidence, observations,
experimentation, and reasoning. Scientific theories are
more than just speculative ideas or educated guesses; they
are the result of rigorous and systematic scientific
investigation.

• Explanatory Power
• Predictive Capacity
• Consistency
• Supported by Evidence

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Theory: Predictive Power

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You cannot prove a negative
statement
• Prove Santa Claus is Not Real

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You cannot prove a negative
statement
• Prove Santa Claus is Not Real

The absence of evidence is not necessarily the evidence

of absence

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You cannot prove a negative
statement
• Prove Santa Claus is Not Real

• Well, you cannot catch a Santa.

Tuesday, September 26, 2023 18

You cannot prove a negative
statement
• Prove Santa Claus is Not Real

• Well, you cannot catch a Santa.

• Probably, you can test if reindeers can fly or not.

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Give evidence, reindeers cannot fly?

N = 200

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Give evidence, reindeers cannot fly?
N = 200

Tuesday, September 26, 2023 21

Give evidence, reindeers cannot fly?
N = 200

Tuesday, September 26, 2023 22

Give evidence, reindeers cannot fly?
N = 200 -1

Tuesday, September 26, 2023 23

Give evidence, reindeers cannot fly?
N = 200 -100

Tuesday, September 26, 2023 24

Give evidence, reindeers cannot fly?
N = 200 - 200

Tuesday, September 26, 2023 25

Give evidence, reindeers cannot fly?
• Where you able to show that reindeers cannot fly?

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Give evidence, reindeers cannot fly?
• Where you able to show that reindeers cannot fly?

• At that specific time, altitude, longitude, weather,

position, height of the building, not Christmas ->
Reindeers couldn’t fly.

Tuesday, September 26, 2023 27

Give evidence, reindeers cannot fly?
• Where you able to show that reindeers cannot fly?

• At that specific time, altitude, longitude, weather,

position, height of the building, not Christmas ->
Reindeers couldn’t fly.

• At that specific time, altitude, longitude, weather,

position, height of the building, not Christmas ->
Reindeers choose not to fly.

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Maybe we can prove negative
• If it is absence despite careful empirical study done in-line
with the scientific method, then the absence of evidence
itself can be considered a type of scientific evidence.

Observation 1 Observation 2 Observation 3

Observation 4 If we look for a mice in the room Observation Nth

.............

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Why hypothesis is important?
• Guidance: Hypotheses provide a clear direction, outlining
what you're investigating and what you expect to find. They
act as a roadmap for your research.

• Focused Research: Hypotheses narrow down the scope of

your study, preventing you from exploring irrelevant or
tangential aspects and helping you stay on track.

• Testability: Hypotheses are testable predictions, allowing

you to design experiments and gather data to either support
or refute your ideas.

• Structured Analysis: Hypotheses provide a structured

framework for analyzing results, making it easier to draw
meaningful conclusions from your data.
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Exercise: 1
• Title: "The Effects of Exercise on Cognitive Function in
Elderly Adults"
• Abstract: This study investigates the relationship between
regular exercise and cognitive function in elderly adults. A
sample of 200 participants aged 65 and older was divided
into two groups: an exercise group and a control group.
Over a 12-week period, the exercise group followed a
supervised aerobic exercise regimen, while the control
group maintained their usual routine. Cognitive function
was assessed using standardized memory and attention
tests before and after the intervention. Our findings reveal
a significant improvement in cognitive performance among
the exercise group compared to the control group. These
results suggest that regular aerobic exercise may have a
positive impact on cognitive function in elderly adults.

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Exercise: 1
• Null Hypothesis: There is no significant difference in
cognitive function between elderly adults who engage in
regular aerobic exercise and those who do not.

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Exercise: 1
• Null Hypothesis: There is no significant difference in
cognitive function between elderly adults who engage in
regular aerobic exercise and those who do not.

• Alternate Hypothesis: Elderly adults who engage in regular

aerobic exercise will show a significant improvement in
cognitive function compared to those who do not engage
in exercise.

Tuesday, September 26, 2023 33

Exercise: 2
• Title: "Impact of Dietary Fiber Intake on Blood Sugar Levels in
Type 2 Diabetes Patients"
• Abstract: This study aims to explore the relationship between
dietary fiber intake and blood sugar levels in individuals with
type 2 diabetes. A total of 120 participants with diagnosed
diabetes were enrolled. They were divided into two groups: a
high-fiber diet group and a standard diet group. Over a span
of 3 months, the high-fiber group followed a diet rich in fiber,
while the standard diet group maintained their usual dietary
habits. Blood sugar levels were measured before and after
the intervention. Results indicate a statistically significant
reduction in post-meal blood sugar levels in the high-fiber
diet group compared to the standard diet group. These
findings suggest that increasing dietary fiber intake can
potentially contribute to improved blood sugar control in
individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Tuesday, September 26, 2023 34

Exercise: 2
• Null Hypothesis: There is no significant difference in blood
sugar levels between individuals with type 2 diabetes who
consume a high-fiber diet and those who follow a standard
diet.

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Exercise: 2
• Null Hypothesis: There is no significant difference in blood
sugar levels between individuals with type 2 diabetes who
consume a high-fiber diet and those who follow a standard
diet.

• Alternate Hypothesis: Individuals with type 2 diabetes

who consume a high-fiber diet will experience a significant
reduction in blood sugar levels compared to those who
follow a standard diet.

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 Thank you

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