The Characteristics of an Experimental Hypothesis

The Inductive Model

The Deductive Model
Combining Induction and Deduction
Building on Prior Research
Serendipity and the Windfall Hypothesis
Intuition
When All Else Fails
Searching the Research Literature

What is a hypothesis?

A hypothesis is an explanation of a relationship

between two or more variables.

The Characteristics of an Experimental Hypothesis

What is an experimental hypothesis?

An experimental hypothesis is a tentative

explanation of an event or a behavior. It is a
statement that predicts the effect of an
independent variable on a dependent variable.
For example, cognitive behavior therapy (CBT)
produces less relapse than antidepressants.

The Characteristics of an Experimental Hypothesis

What is an nonexperimental hypothesis?

A nonexperimental hypothesis predicts how

variables (events, traits, or behaviors) might be
correlated, but not causally related.
For example, red-haired patients receive less
relief from pain medication than blonde patients.

The Characteristics of an Experimental Hypothesis

Why must a hypothesis be a synthetic statement?

When we state a hypothesis, we then gather

data that either support or contradict it.
For this reason, a hypothesis must be capable
of being true or false, which is a property of
synthetic statements.

The Characteristics of an Experimental Hypothesis

What is testability and why is it important?

An experimental hypothesis is testable when

it can be assessed by manipulating an IV and
measuring the results on the DV.
Without testability, we cannot evaluate the
validity of a hypothesis.

The Characteristics of an Experimental Hypothesis

Why should hypotheses be parsimonious?

Parsimony means that we prefer a simple

hypothesis over one requiring many supporting
assumptions.
A simple hypothesis allows us to focus our
attention on the main factors that influence
our dependent variable.

The Characteristics of an Experimental Hypothesis

Explain the inductive model of formulating a

hypothesis.
Induction is reasoning from specific cases
to general principles to form a hypothesis.
Researchers use inductive reasoning to
construct theories by creating explanations
that account for empirical data (observations).

The Inductive Model

How can we build a theory using induction?

Scientists can use the results of extensive

experiments designed to test hypotheses to
construct a theory that unifies their findings.

The Inductive Model

Explain the deductive model of formulating a

hypothesis.
Deduction is reasoning from general principles
to specific predictions. This approach is used to
test the assumptions of a theory.

The Deductive Model

How can researchers combine induction and

deduction?
Develop propositions using induction by
examining specific cases. Then, make
predictions using deduction.
Walster et al. formulated equity theory based
on specific observations (induction) and then
tested predictions from this theory (deduction).

Combining Induction and Deduction

What is the most useful way to develop a

hypothesis?
Review research that has already been
published. Both experimental and
nonexperimental studies can prove helpful.

Building on Prior Research

How does a review of prior experiments help us

develop a hypothesis?
A review of prior experiments helps in five ways:
Identifies questions that have not been
conclusively answered or addressed at all
Suggests new hypotheses
Identifies additional variables that could
mediate an effect

Building on Prior Research

How does a review of prior experiments help us

develop a hypothesis?
Identifies problems other researchers have
experienced
Helps avoid duplication of prior research
when replication is not intended

Building on Prior Research

How does serendipity help develop fruitful

hypotheses?
A scientist who is open to unexpected results
and who is sufficiently informed can understand
the significance of unexpected findings.
However, a dogmatic scientist would be less
likely to see or appreciate the significance of
serendipitous events.

Serendipity and the Windfall Hypothesis

What is intuition?

Intuition is knowing without reasoning, or

unconscious problem-solving. Intuition guides
what we choose to study in an experiment.
Intuition must be directed by our literature
review.

Intuition

What are helpful strategies for developing

experimental hypotheses?
Three promising strategies are:
(1) Read an issue of a psychology journal
(2) Observe how people behave in public places
(3) Choose a real-world problem and try to
identify its cause.

When All Else Fails

What is the purpose of the Introduction section of an

APA-format paper?
The Introduction section provides a selective
review of research findings related to the
research hypothesis.
This section identifies which questions have not
been definitively answered by previous studies
and helps show how your experiment advances
knowledge in this area.

Searching the Research Literature

Explain the value of a meta-analysis?

A meta-analysis can provide helpful information

about your topic.
A meta-analysis is not an experiment, but rather
a statistical analysis of many similar studies.

Searching the Research Literature

Explain the value of a meta-analysis?

A meta-analysis measures the average effect

size of an independent variable across studies
that share similar methodologies.
This statistical procedure helps establish
the strength and external validity of a causal
relationship.

Searching the Research Literature