The Importance of Finishing Touches Hypotheses Hypotheses are used to support scientific The Use of Tenses research and create breakthroughs in Hypotheses should always be written knowledge. in the present tense. At the time they These brief statements are what form the are written, these statements are basis of entire research experiments. Thus, referring to research that is currently a flaw in the formulation of a hypothesis The Hypothesis being conducted. Therefore, may cause a flaw in the design of an entire hypotheses should follow in Science experiment. accordingly. Writing Flaws in experimental design may lead to Example 1 uses the term the use of unreliable information in the field “growing” to place the of research being questioned. In fields such hypothesis in present tense as medicine, where precision of knowledge is of utmost importance, the use of correct Avoid saying things like research design is imperative. “dandelions will develop larger leaves,” as this puts the statement in future tense Have Questions? Things to Remember Hypotheses are NOT opinions or predictions; they are reasonable The Writing Center is here to help! expectations based on factual information. Location: Franco 141 Phone: 610-396-6407 How to Write a Proper H ypothesis Make an Appointment: berks.mywconline.com A Brief Explanation Creating Hypotheses The “PICOT” Model What is a Hypothesis? To begin formulating a hypothesis: After a general statement is formulated, the “PICOT” model can be A statement about a specific research used to shape it into a proper question, and it outlines the expected 1. Review all the information gathered hypothesis. result of the experiment. during research 2. Figure out what the main question Population of the study is Interest 3. Form a general statement outlining Comparison this question and the overall expectation of the experiment Outcome Time The goal is to create a rough version of the statement seen in Example 1 based on the When writing a hypothesis, be sure to given research information. The statement include these components. Use should highlight the main purpose of the Example 1 as a reference: study and underline what conclusion it is Population- the specific group aiming to support. or individual the research pertains to (Dandelions) What is a “Proper” Hypothesis? The hypothetical experiment that Example Interest- the main concern of A clear, testable statements written 1 refers to is about the effects of nitrogen the study (Effects of nitrogen- in the present tense that includes on plant growth. The main purpose of the rich soils on plant growth) practical reasoning study is to discover whether nitrogen-rich Comparison- the main soils increase leaf size in dandelions. alternative group (Dandelions Example 1: Dandelions growing in growing in nitrogen-poor soils) nitrogen-rich soils for two weeks Outcome- what result is develop larger leaves than those in expected (Larger leaves) nitrogen-poor soils because nitrogen stimulates vegetative growth. Time- the length of the experiment (two weeks) .