CHAPTER 6: FORMULATING HYPOTHESIS

Hypothesis

an educated guess; it explain relationship between two or more variables

non-experimental hypothesis

predicts how variables might be correlated, not a statement about cause and effect.

experimental hypothesis

a tentative explanation of an event or behavior; it predicts the effect of an independent variable on a dependent variable.

synthetic statements

a hypothesis must be capable of being true or false

testable

can be assessed by manipulating IV and measuring the effects on DV

parsimony

represent simple hypothesis that is preferrable over one requiring many supporting assumptions.

analytic statement

is one that is always true

contradictory statement

statement with elements that oppose each other; it is always false

induction

reasoning from specific to general to form a hypothesis. Use to create theories.

deduction

reasoning from general to specific. Used to test the assumption of theory.

intuition

knowing without reasoning or unconscious problem-solving.