How to Create a Hypothesis

A strong hypothesis is an important first step.

The first of the fundamental steps in the classic scientific process, creating a hypothesis is essentially a guess informed by preliminary data. A good hypothesis informs a good experiment or collection of data. To form a quality hypotheses, take stock of your thought process and shape it according to objective standards.

Things You'll Need

• Pen and paper
• Observable data

Instructions

1. Clear your mind of any assumptions. The best way to do this is by recognizing what some of your preconceived notions about the situation are and setting them aside and/or trying to examine them objectively. Pay special attention to areas where you know social conditioning and stereotypes may come into play; for example, if you're trying to form a hypothesis about behaviors of men and women in similar circumstances, you might be tempted to think that behaviors are based in biological differences in the sexes if that's the sort of discussion you've been exposed to.

2. Ask yourself a specific question about the situation at hand. This should be something that has no readily apparent, clear answer. For example, you might be watching the behavior of your pet and ask, "Why does my cat ignore some of my houseplants but try to eat others?" but only if there isn't a clear answer, such as some of the plants being located too high for the cat to reach.

3. Observe the circumstances surrounding the situation. Look for examples of behavior, conditions or events that surround the situation and could potentially be related to your question. Keep an open mind and try to observe and take note of everything you see or hear without judging its meaning, yet.

4. Make a list of phenomena that could indicate influence on the situation. Following the cat example, this may include observations about the way the cat looks at, sniffs or reacts to certain plants versus others, as this might indicate that some plants have a smell the cat doesn't like. It might also include factors like the color or shape of the pots the various plants are in (if the cat prefers certain colors or shapes).

5. Brainstorm a cause-and-effect possibility based on the data. Looking at potential influences, see which ones are consistent with what you already know of the situation and the occurrences you've observed. Be open to the possibility of looking for multiple hypotheses to answer your question.

References

• Access Excellence: Writing Hypotheses