10Min Research Methodology - 25 (P1) - Concept and Types of Hypotheses

A hypothesis is the study’s proposed relationships in plain, testable form—an educated, logically grounded statement that sets the scope of what will be assessed. It functions as a bridge between the literature review and empirical testing: once the literature builds the case for how variables connect (for example, how servant leadership may shape environmental behavior, green identity, empowerment, or how green locus of control may strengthen related effects), the hypothesis turns that argument into something measurable.

The term “educated guess” matters because the guess is not random. It is “logical” when the proposed links are derived from systematic reasoning and the established relationships in prior research. In other words, the hypothesis is where the study crystallizes: these are the relationships of interest, and this is what the research intends to test.

Hypotheses come in two main types: null and alternate. A null hypothesis represents “no” relationship or no difference, but “no” does not mean “negative.” Confusion often arises because negative outcomes can still be real—they may be negative but insignificant, or negative and significant. Null is about statistical significance (or the absence of a meaningful effect), not about whether the direction is positive or negative.

The alternate hypothesis states that an effect or difference exists. It can be directional (for instance, a positive impact) or non-directional, depending on how the literature supports the expected direction. The transcript emphasizes that alternate hypotheses are the ones most commonly reported in social sciences—often in the vast majority of cases—because the research debate typically centers on whether the proposed relationships actually matter.

To illustrate the distinction, the transcript uses a bank-account analogy: withdrawing 10 cents from $100,000 reduces savings, but the reduction is tiny and may be statistically insignificant; withdrawing $1,000 is also negative, yet it is large enough to be significant. The key takeaway is that “negative” describes direction, while “null” describes whether the effect is meaningful.

Finally, the transcript provides a basic writing template. The null hypothesis (H0) can be phrased as an insignificant impact of a variable on an outcome (e.g., servant leadership on environmental behavior). The alternate hypothesis (H1 or HA) can be phrased as a significant impact—optionally directional, such as a positive impact. When multiple relationships are tested, multiple hypotheses can be labeled (e.g., H1, HA1, HA2), reflecting each distinct relationship derived from the literature review.