Non-verbal communication in friendships and romantic relationships

Hints for Writing a Hypothesis

Pyrczak & Bruce (1998)

1. A simple research hypothesis should name two variables and indicate the type of relationship expected between them.

Hypothesis of association:

H: There is a positive association between use of relational maintenance strategies

and relational satisfaction.

Hypothesis of difference:

H: Men and women differ in the types of relational maintenance strategies

they use.

1. When a relationship is expected only in a particular population (ex: Romantic Relationships), reference to the population should be made in the hypothesis.

1. A simple hypothesis should be as specific as possible, yet expressed in a single sentence.

1. If a comparison is to be made, the elements to be compared should be stated.

1. Because most hypotheses deal with the behavior of groups, plural forms should usually be used (e.g., use men and women, not man and woman).

1. A hypothesis should be free of terms and phrases that do not add to its meaning.

1. A hypothesis should indicate what will actually be studied—not the possible implications of the study or value judgments of the author.

1. A hypothesis usually should name variables in the order in which they occur or will be measured.

1. Avoid using the words “significant” or “significance” in a hypothesis.

1. Avoid using the word “prove” in a hypothesis.

1. Avoid using different terms to refer to the same variable in a hypothesis.

1. Avoid making precise statistical predictions in a hypothesis.