There are also some expressions you should avoid in stating a hypothesis. Researchers do not use "prove" in a hypothesis. As you will understand more fully after you read Chapter 19, "Inferential Statistical Analysis," research never proves anything. We can only offer degrees of support in our conclusions. There is always the possibility that our conclusion could be wrong. Also, avoid stating exact degrees of association, such as 65% of the respondents will or will not respond in a certain way. When the exact amount specified in a hypothesis is not found, the hypothesis has to be rejected. Yet, the data might support a more general level of association between two variables. Using a more general expression of an expected relationship, gives you more freedom in drawing a conclusion from the test of a hypothesis.

Designation of variables as either the independent or dependent has no meaning by itself. The same variable may be treated as an independent variable in one investigation and as a dependent variable in another. In Fattah's investigation, years of schooling were used as one of the "resources" of the wives. In this case, she treated schooling as the independent variable. In a study whose purpose was to find out why some women went to school longer than other women, years of schooling would be taken as the dependent variable, with perhaps the education of the parents as the independent variables.

Forms of hypotheses

Hypotheses can be stated in a number of ways. To help you state a hypothesis, we present some ways hypotheses are frequently expressed. These are:

As a negative relationship between two variables. Negative means the values for the variables move in opposite directions - as one variable increases the other decreases or vice a versa. A well established negative relationship exists between the schooling of women and their fertility: that is, the higher the schooling, the lower the fertility. The words inverse or indirect are also used to describe a negative relationship. A negative (or inverse or indirect) relationship can be expressed as:

Schooling of females is negatively (or inversely or indirectly) related to their fertility.

This form of a hypothesis is based on the form outlined earlier - independent variable, connecting verb, dependent variable. Once you get used to writing hypotheses, you might be more comfortable stating hypotheses in a slightly different form, such as:

There is a negative (or inverse or indirect) relationship between schooling of females and their fertility.

Schooling among females and their fertility are negatively (or inversely or indirectly) related.

Also, the word associated can be used in place of related and "association" for relationship.   Thus, the hypotheses just given could be rewritten using association and associated.

Schooling of females is negatively (or inversely or indirectly) associated with their fertility.

There is a negative (or inverse or indirect) association between schooling of females and their fertility.

Schooling among females and their fertility are negatively (or inversely or indirectly) associated.

In the form of a positive relationship or association between variables. Positive means the variables moves in the same direction - as one increases so does the other. The word direct is also used to describe a positive relationship. A positive or direct hypothesis can be expressed in several ways:

Schooling of wives is positively (or directly) associated with participation in family financial decision-making.

There is a positive (or direct) relationship (or association) between the schooling of wives and their participation in family financial decision-making.

Schooling of wives and their participation in family financial decision-making are positively (or directly) related (or associated).