How do you define a clear and testable hypothesis for your problem?

1 Why do you need a hypothesis?

A hypothesis helps you to narrow down your problem and focus on the most important aspects. It also helps you to communicate your assumptions and expectations to others, and to evaluate your results objectively. A hypothesis is not a guess or a hunch, but a logical and testable proposition that can be supported or rejected by evidence.

2 How do you generate a hypothesis?

To generate a hypothesis, you need to do some background research and observation on your problem. You need to understand the context, the variables, the stakeholders, and the existing knowledge and gaps. You also need to ask questions that guide your inquiry and spark your curiosity. For example, you can use the 5W+H framework: who, what, when, where, why, and how. Based on your research and questions, you can then formulate a hypothesis that expresses a causal or correlational relationship between two or more variables.

3 How do you make a hypothesis clear?

A clear hypothesis is one that is specific and concise. It defines the variables and the population of interest clearly, and avoids vague or ambiguous terms. It also states the direction and magnitude of the expected effect, if applicable. For example, instead of saying "Exercise affects mood", you can say "Moderate aerobic exercise for 30 minutes three times a week improves mood scores by 10% among adults with mild depression".

4 How do you make a hypothesis testable?

A testable hypothesis is one that can be verified or falsified by empirical data. It implies a clear method of measurement and analysis, and specifies the criteria for acceptance or rejection. It also considers the feasibility and ethical implications of the experiment. For example, instead of saying "Eating chocolate makes people happy", you can say "Eating 50 grams of dark chocolate daily for two weeks increases the level of serotonin in the blood by 20% compared to a placebo group".

5 How do you make a hypothesis SMART?

A SMART hypothesis is one that is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. This acronym can help you to check the quality and validity of your hypothesis and ensure it is aligned with your goals and resources. To create a SMART hypothesis, ask yourself what exactly you want to achieve or test, how you will measure your outcome or effect, if the hypothesis is realistic and feasible given your constraints and limitations, if it is important and meaningful for your problem and context, and when you will conduct and complete your experiment.

6 How do you test a hypothesis?

To test a hypothesis, you need to design and conduct an experiment that can provide evidence to support or reject it. An experiment is a controlled and systematic procedure that manipulates one or more independent variables and measures their effect on one or more dependent variables. You also need to consider the validity, reliability, and ethical issues of your experiment, and to analyze and interpret your data using appropriate statistical methods. Finally, you need to report your findings and conclusions, and discuss their implications and limitations.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?