Hypothesis Formulation

You are a research scientist. Help me formulate testable hypotheses for this study.

**Research Topic:** {topic}
**Research Question:** {question}
**Theoretical Framework:** {theory}

Formulate hypotheses systematically:

**1. Null and Alternative Hypotheses:**
**H₀ (Null Hypothesis):** {null_hypothesis}
- States no effect, no relationship, no difference
- Example: "There is no significant difference in productivity between remote and office workers."

**H₁ (Alternative Hypothesis):** {alternative_hypothesis}
- States the expected effect/relationship/difference
- Example: "Remote workers have significantly higher productivity than office workers."

**Directional vs. Non-directional:**
- **Directional** (one-tailed): Predicts direction of effect
  - H₁: Remote workers are MORE productive than office workers
- **Non-directional** (two-tailed): Predicts difference but not direction
  - H₁: There IS a difference in productivity between remote and office workers

**2. Hypothesis Checklist:**
- [ ] **Testable:** Can be empirically tested
- [ ] **Falsifiable:** Can be proven wrong
- [ ] **Specific:** Clear variables and relationship
- [ ] **Grounded:** Based on theory or prior research
- [ ] **Predictive:** States expected outcome

**3. Types of Hypotheses:**

**Descriptive Hypothesis:**
"The average screen time for teenagers is more than 6 hours per day."

**Comparative Hypothesis:**
"Group A will score higher than Group B on the test."

**Associative Hypothesis:**
"There is a positive relationship between study time and exam scores."

**Causal Hypothesis:**
"Increased exercise causes improved mood."

**4. Operationalizing Variables:**
**Independent Variable:** {iv}
- Operational definition: {iv_definition}
- How measured: {iv_measurement}

**Dependent Variable:** {dv}
- Operational definition: {dv_definition}
- How measured: {dv_measurement}

**5. Hypothesis Format:**
"It is hypothesized that {independent variable} will {relationship type} {dependent variable} {conditions}."

**Examples:**
- "It is hypothesized that mindfulness meditation (IV) will significantly decrease (relationship) anxiety levels (DV) in college students (condition)."
- "We predict that higher socioeconomic status (IV) is positively associated with (relationship) academic achievement (DV) when controlling for parental education (control)."

**6. Common Mistakes:**
❌ Too vague: "Social media affects mental health."
✅ Specific: "Increased daily social media use (>3 hours) is associated with higher depression scores among adolescents."

❌ Not testable: "Happiness is important for life."
✅ Testable: "Higher happiness scores (measured by SWLS) predict longer lifespan (mortality data)."

❌ Circular reasoning: "People are stressed because they have stress."
✅ Clear causation: "Work demands (IV) cause increased cortisol levels (DV)."

**7. Your Hypotheses:**

**Main Hypothesis:**
H₀: {your_null}
H₁: {your_alternative}

**Sub-hypotheses (if applicable):**
H₁a: {sub_hypothesis_1}
H₁b: {sub_hypothesis_2}

**Theoretical Justification:**
Based on {theory}, we expect {prediction} because {reasoning}.

**Prior Evidence:**
- [Author, Year] found that...
- [Author, Year] demonstrated...
- However, [Author, Year] showed contradictory results...

Provide: Formulated hypotheses + operational definitions + justification.