The Importance of a Hypothesis in Research: Methods and Reliability

This paper delves into the critical role of a hypothesis in research, emphasizing its function as the ultimate controller of instruments, methods, and the overall reliability of a research endeavor. It begins by contrasting deductive and inductive research programs, highlighting how a hypothesis guides the selection of research instruments and defines the scope of the study. The paper further explores how a hypothesis sets boundaries for research methods, ensuring reliability and preventing researchers from getting lost. It also differentiates between a hypothesis and a research question, emphasizing the former's role in connecting the research with past knowledge and future directions. The paper stresses the importance of a hypothesis in maintaining focus and providing a clear path for researchers in the vast field of research, referencing key literature to support its arguments.

Running Head: THE IMPORTANCE OF A HYPOTHESIS
Contents
Hypothesis the ultimate controller of the instruments, methods, and reliability of a research. .2
References..................................................................................................................................4
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Running Head: THE IMPORTANCE OF A HYPOTHESIS
Hypothesis the ultimate controller of the instruments, methods, and reliability of a
research
Every research work is a journey from a known destination to an unknown destination.
Columbus accidentally discovered the USA instead of India; it was his sheer luck that the
USA turns around to be a better place in India in many ways. However, every sailor in the
field of research is not as lucky as Christopher Columbus is. However, we can never forget
the fact that even Columbus started his journey with a hypothesis that a certain river will take
him to the certain shore of India.
Prior to defining the hypothesis, we would like to explore the reasoning behind the research
programs. A deductive research program is an attempt to confirm any particular fact.
Whereas an inductive research program is an attempt to find something new with the help of
loop-based thinking, a hypothesis plays a crucial role in the selection of the instruments of the
research. It sets a boundary for the resources that we are going to use in the research. The
presence of the hypothesis also helps us in defining the scope of a research under the powers
and the limitations of various research instruments (Kumar, 2014).
During the course of deductive reasoning based research, hypothesis sets some boundaries in
front of us, these boundaries give an idea about the methods of the research. For instance, if
we wish to check the number of individuals using ketchup in a fast food joint, then we cannot
do it directly. We need to take the support of an observation based research. We can compare
and confirm the results with the help of the empty sachets of the ketchup presented in the
disposal area and calculate them.
Reliability is another issue that only hypothesis can allow us to maintain. In general cases, a
hypothesis is an outcome of the background research of the issue. This background research
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Running Head: THE IMPORTANCE OF A HYPOTHESIS
allows a researcher on to a beaten track and gives him the opportunity to beat the next track
(Bryman, 2016).
The hypothesis also sets the things connected to the logistic of any research program. In the
absence of a hypothesis, a researcher may end up moving in circles. The hypothesis sets a
journey from the point A to the Point B. One can imagine the path and arrange the resources
accordingly. Methods are the reliability of the research also decides the logistics of a
research. Hypothesis gives us an idea that up to what depths we wish to move. Many people
fail in distinguishing between a hypothesis and a research question (Coleman, 2013 ). A
research question covers a part of any big research program. A hypothesis, on the other hand,
connects it with the past and paves a way in the future at the same time. It sets the guidelines
and targets for the researchers. Research is a vast field. It is an endless arena of creativity and
mathematics clubbed together. Sometimes a researcher may lose his focus. Here he can take
resort in the hypothesis and move back on the track very easily (Baston, 2011).
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Running Head: THE IMPORTANCE OF A HYPOTHESIS
References
Baston, G. (2011). Introduction to Scientific Research Projects. Copenhagen: Bookboon.
Bryman, A. (2016). Social Research Methods. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Coleman, R. (2013 ). Deleuze and Research Methodologies. Edinburg: Edinburg University
Press.
Kumar, R. (2014). Research Methodology: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners. Thousand
Oaks: Sage Publication.
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