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Unit-3: Basic Concepts : Fact, Concept, Theory and Hypothesis

(iv) Related to Available Techniques—While formulating any hypothesis,it must be kept in note
mind that there must be techniques available to check their truth, validity and reliability.
for this, it is also important that the researcher should have enough knowledge about these
techniques too. those hypothesis which cannot be examined and rechecked are of no use
from the view point of research so it is quite clear that hypothesis should be well in limits
of scientific techniques. But it does not mean that new methods and techniques may not
be developed. At present many scientists have developed many new techniques for better
reexamination and assessments of hypothesis for validation and reliability test.

Did You Know? Goode and Haute say that the theory writer who does not know about the
techniques available to reflect his hypothesis, he can never form good and
useful questions successfully.

(v) Related to By a of Theory—Goode and Haute have mentioned that many researchers of
new generation often ignore this fact of hypothesis that any hypothesis is always related to
some theory or the other. they choose such topics which they feel are interesting. they do
not keep in mind whether their research will help to prove the earlier set theories or not.
(vi) Simplicity—An excellent hypothesis must possess the quality of simplicity too. it means these
unnecessary factors should be excluded from it because they make the hypothesis complex
and unfit for examination. Mrs. Young holds the view that the researcher who is well aware
of his problems and situations can formulate a good hypothesis easily. According to her
‘simplicity’, is like an instrument which is very sharp and can ‘chap out’ all unnecessary
concepts and analysis from the main useful hypothesis. so simplicity is compared with
‘Milliam o Clans razor’, too. But too much of simplicity may be dangerous too as any
hypothesis should not be so simple that any layman could use it, so this quality should be
used carefully too.

3.12 Types of Hypothesis

there are a large variety of hypothesis used by sociologists and socialists, they may be based on various
types related to social facts, situations, incidences, nature of social problems, aims of hypothesis and
types of facts etc. Various intellectuals have mentioned various types of hypothesis out of which we
will explain some of them here :-
Goode and Haute have mentioned three main types of hypothesis :
1. Related to Empirical Uniformities—these hypothesis are based on general knowledge of
humans, logical sentences, daily experiences, proverbs, statements and beliefs etc. e.g., fox
is cunning most among animals. in such hypothesis the common fact is the only main focus
of research.
2. Concerned with Complex Ideal Types—such type of hypothesis have one common general
fact or conclusion which is taken as a basic fact and other related facts to this basic one
is checked or re-examined. Most of such hypothesis are related to minority groups and
ecological conditions, e.g., Burges had formulated a hypothesis in his research work stating
that centrally circular cities are symptoms of development nature. such types of hypothesis
have the aim to re- examine the inter–relationship between the pre-formulated hypothesis. in
such hypothesis,the relation between various factors is rechecked logically and conclusions
derived. thus they are termed as relational hypothesis. Because these hypothesis are based

loVely professional uniVersity 29