1. Explanatory or Descriptive hypothesis – This type of the hypothesis generally involves data about the cause of the process or about the law on which it is based. Hypothesis involving data about the cause is explanatory in approach and the hypothesis involving laws acts descriptive in the approach.

2. Tentative hypothesis – Such a hypothesis is made, when one does not possess complete information and understanding about a certain process or phenomenon. Such a situation, when one is not able to understand the process may occur due to the technical difficulties. It is also possible to test two or more hypothesis simultaneously the hypothesis about the propagation of light, namely, wave theory and the corpuscular theory of light both describe the light’ s phenomenon but among both of these none of them is final hence these can be referred to as tentative in nature.

3. Representative fictions – Some hypothesis are based on the assumptions and depending on the nature of the case, it is not at all possible to prove these assumptions by the direct means such hypothesis is referred to as the representative fictions. The only positive point of these representative fictions is that they are very suitable in order to explain the whole phenomenon.

Problems faced during hypothesis formulation
Formulating a hypothesis is not at all an easy process and is faced with a large number of difficulties. According to Goode and Hatt, the various difficulties faced during the formulation of the hypothesis generally include the lack of the knowledge about the scientific approach of the method involved, as sometimes it becomes impossible to gather the complete information about a particular scientific method. One other major difficulty in the formulation of the hypothesis is the lack of clear theoretical background. Because of this problem of unclear and indefinite background of theory one is not able to arrive to a conclusion easily.

But with time answers to all such problems are available and these difficulties that arise during the hypothesis formulation can be easily removed by having complete and accurate information about the concepts of the subjects involved. Also the hypothesis should not be very long and should be timely in nature.

Introduction and Definition
Science mainly consists of two main factors on which its working depends first is the body of the knowledge and the other one is the method of the inquiry. The body of knowledge involves the various laws, theories, hypothesis etc. and the other factor of inquiry methodology consists of the various mechanisms that help a great deal in the addition of the theories etc to the body of the knowledge.

Hypothesis and the theories are generally responsible for the movement of knowledge from the unknown to the known. Hypotheses play a very important and a critical role in the assertion of a particular thing, as they are able to describe certain facts and are also able to explain the various relationships between these facts. As a result of this, hypotheses help a great deal in the investigation operations or activities.

On the institution of the problem to be answered in the process of the research, the researcher forms various tentative or possible solutions to these problems these proposed answers or the solutions are referred to as the hypothesis. But a very critical and essential point to be kept in mind here is that these propositions are not at all verified in nature.

So Hypothesis can be referred to as the interpretation of certain facts which is just a possible solution or a tentative answer to a problem and is completely or partly unverified in nature. Then afterwards on its establishment, it ceases to be a hypothesis and then finally becomes a theory or a principle. The word ‘Hypothesis’ has come from the Greek word hypo (means under)and tithenas (means to place) together these words indicate towards the support they provide to each other on the placement of the hypothesis under the evidence, which acts as a foundation.

According to George A Luniberg, hypothesis can be defined as a ‘tentative generalization, the validity of which remains to be tested. In this elementary stage, the hypothesis may be very hunch, guess, imaginative data, which becomes the basis for an action or an investigation.’

A very vital point that should be kept in mind about the hypotheses is that these are not theories these only have some linkage to the theory but hypothesis is not that much elaborated as the theory is. But it can be said that the hypothesis is derived from the theory.

Role and Functions of the hypothesis
1. Helps in the testing of the theories.
2. Serves as a great platform in the investigation activities.
3. Provides guidance to the research work or study.
4. Hypothesis sometimes suggests theories.
5. Helps in knowing the needs of the data.
6. Explains social phenomena.
7. Develops the theory.
8. Also acts as a bridge between the theory and the investigation.
9. Provides a relationship between phenomena in such a way that it leads to the empirical testing of the relationship.
10. Helps in knowing the most suitable technique of analysis.
11. Helps in the determination of the most suitable type of research.
12. Provides knowledge about the required sources of data.
13. Research becomes focused under the direction of the hypothesis.
14. Is very helpful in carrying out an enquiry of a certain activity.
15. Helps in reaching conclusions, if it is correctly drawn.

Sources of hypothesis
1. Observations made in routine activities.
2. Theories based on the scientific approach.
3. Analogies.
4. Knowledge obtained from the functional executives.
5. Results of the research and development department.
6. Experience of the investigator.

Characteristics of hypothesis
1. Should be very specific in nature.
2. Concept of the hypothesis should be clear.
3. Should be empirically testable.
4. Should be related to the devices and the techniques that are available.
5. Should relate to the body of the theory.
6. Should recognize the specific variables and their relations.

1. Casual and Scientific observation – An observation can be sometimes casual in nature or sometimes it may act scientifically. An observation with a casual approach involves observing the right thing at the right place and also at the right time by a matter of chance or by luck whereas a scientific observation involves the use of the tools of the measurement, but a very important point to be kept in mind here is that all the observations are not scientific in nature.

2. Natural Observation – Natural observation involves observing the behaviour in a normal setting and in this type of observation, no efforts are made to bring any type of change in the behavior of the observed. Improvement in the collection of the information and improvement in the environment of making an observation can be done with the help of natural observations.
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Introduction and Meaning of Observation
The most common method used for getting information about the various things around us, is to observe those things and also the various processes related to those things. Hence, it can be said that observation acts as a fundamental and the basic method of getting information about anything. But it must be kept in mind that observation is not just seeing things but it is carefully watching the things and trying to understand them in depth, in order to get some information about them.

Observations sometimes act scientifically, when used by the researchers in various research works but it should be noted that all observations are not scientific in nature.
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1. Pure research
a. Also called as the fundamental or the theoretical research.
b. Is basic and original.
c. Can lead to the discovery of a new theory.
d. Can result in the development or refinement of a theory that already exists.
e. Helps in getting knowledge without thinking formally of implementing it in practice based on the honesty, love and integrity of the researcher for discovering the truth.

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