FUNCTIONS
OF HYPOTHESIS.
Hypotheses are
the questions scientists ask as they use the scientific method to understand
the world. People use the process of formulating then attempting to disprove a
hypothesis in their everyday lives as well. The function of the hypothesis is
to give structure to the process of understanding how the world works.
Identification
A hypothesis is
an educated guess, based on the probability of an outcome. Scientists formulate
hypotheses after they understand all the current research on their subject.
Hypotheses specify the relationship between at least two variables, and are
testable. For a hypothesis to function properly, other scientists must be able
to reproduce the results that prove or disprove it. Two types of hypotheses
exist: a descriptive hypothesis asks a question, and a directional hypothesis
makes a statement.
Scientific
Method
The scientific
method is the process by which hypotheses function. Scientists use the
scientific method to, over time, form an accurate picture of the world. The
scientific method attempts to remove the scientist's bias from the research.
The four parts of the scientific method are observation and description,
formulation of a hypothesis, use of the hypothesis for prediction and
performance of testing of the hypothesis. Scientists use the scientific method
to disprove hypotheses, rather than prove them. It they cannot be disproved,
the hypotheses over time become accepted theories.
Experiments
The most
important function hypotheses perform is providing the framework for testing
and experimentation. Scientists formulate a hypothesis, or ask a question,
about a certain phenomenon and how it relates to other aspects of the world.
Then they devise ways to try to disprove their theory as to the answer. For
instance, if a scientist made a hypothesis that what goes up must come down, he
would test it by throwing many items in the air to see if they do come down.
Because scientists cannot test every single possible item for this theory,
hypotheses are never proven. However, after many scientists have experimented
with the hypothesis, it becomes accepted scientific theory.
Formulating
Hypotheses
Scientists make
a hypothesis by comparing the phenomenon being studied to another phenomenon.
For instance, in the real world, a person might decide that her house is cold
because a window is open. She would test this theory by checking the windows.
If the windows are closed, then that hypothesis is proven false, and another is
formed when the person decides that her house is probably cold because the
furnace isn't working properly. The process of forming
and disproving hypotheses continues until a person makes a hypothesis that
cannot be disproved.
