what is the difference between hypotheses and research questions

Hypothesis vs. Research Question

What's the difference.

Hypothesis and research question are both essential components of the scientific research process, but they serve different purposes. A research question is a broad inquiry that aims to explore a specific topic or problem. It is often open-ended and seeks to gather information and generate knowledge. On the other hand, a hypothesis is a specific statement that predicts the relationship between variables or the outcome of a study. It is based on existing knowledge or theories and is testable through empirical research. While a research question guides the overall direction of a study, a hypothesis provides a more focused and specific prediction that can be tested and validated.

Further Detail

Introduction.

When conducting research, whether in the scientific or social sciences realm, it is essential to have a clear direction and purpose. Two key components that help guide the research process are the hypothesis and research question. While both serve as important tools in formulating and conducting research, they differ in their nature, purpose, and structure. In this article, we will explore the attributes of hypothesis and research question, highlighting their similarities and differences.

A hypothesis is a statement that proposes a relationship between variables or predicts an outcome based on existing knowledge or theories. It is an educated guess or assumption that guides the research process and helps researchers test their theories. Hypotheses are typically formulated in a declarative form, stating the expected relationship or outcome.

One of the key attributes of a hypothesis is that it is testable. This means that it can be empirically examined and either supported or rejected through data analysis. A hypothesis should be specific and precise, clearly defining the variables involved and the expected relationship between them. It should also be falsifiable, meaning that it can be proven wrong if the data does not support it.

Hypotheses are often used in quantitative research, where researchers aim to measure and analyze data to draw conclusions. They provide a framework for designing experiments or surveys and guide the collection and analysis of data. Hypotheses can be either directional, predicting the direction of the relationship between variables, or non-directional, suggesting that a relationship exists without specifying its direction.

For example, in a study examining the effects of exercise on mental health, a directional hypothesis could be: "Increased physical exercise will lead to a decrease in symptoms of anxiety." On the other hand, a non-directional hypothesis could be: "There is a relationship between physical exercise and symptoms of anxiety."

Research Question

A research question, on the other hand, is an inquiry that guides the research process and seeks to explore a specific topic or phenomenon. It is a broad, open-ended question that does not propose a specific relationship or outcome. Research questions are often used in qualitative research, where the focus is on understanding and interpreting social phenomena.

Unlike hypotheses, research questions do not require a definitive answer or prediction. Instead, they aim to explore and generate knowledge about a particular subject. Research questions are often formulated using words like "how," "what," "why," or "in what way," indicating the intention to investigate and understand a phenomenon.

Research questions are typically more flexible and adaptable than hypotheses. They allow researchers to explore multiple perspectives and gather rich, in-depth data. Research questions can evolve and change throughout the research process as new insights emerge. They provide a framework for qualitative data collection methods such as interviews, observations, or focus groups.

For example, in a study exploring the experiences of individuals living with chronic pain, a research question could be: "How do individuals with chronic pain cope with their condition on a daily basis?" This question allows for a comprehensive exploration of coping mechanisms, experiences, and challenges faced by individuals living with chronic pain.

Similarities and Differences

While hypotheses and research questions serve distinct purposes, they also share some similarities. Both hypotheses and research questions are essential components of the research process, providing a clear focus and direction. They both aim to guide the research and generate new knowledge. Additionally, both hypotheses and research questions should be grounded in existing literature and theories, ensuring that the research contributes to the existing body of knowledge.

However, the main difference between hypotheses and research questions lies in their structure and purpose. Hypotheses are more specific and focused, proposing a relationship or outcome that can be tested and analyzed quantitatively. They are often used in experimental or survey-based research designs. On the other hand, research questions are broader and open-ended, allowing for qualitative exploration and interpretation of social phenomena. They are commonly used in qualitative research designs.

Another difference is that hypotheses are often derived from research questions. Researchers start with a research question and then formulate a hypothesis based on existing knowledge and theories. The hypothesis provides a more specific and testable statement that can be examined through data analysis. In this way, hypotheses can be seen as a more refined version of research questions, focusing on a specific aspect of the research topic.

Furthermore, hypotheses are more commonly used in deductive research, where researchers start with a theory and test it through empirical evidence. Research questions, on the other hand, are often used in inductive research, where researchers gather data and generate theories or explanations based on the observed patterns or themes.

It is important to note that both hypotheses and research questions can coexist in a research study. In some cases, a study may have both a research question and a hypothesis. The research question provides a broader context and exploration of the topic, while the hypothesis allows for a more focused investigation of a specific relationship or outcome.

In conclusion, hypotheses and research questions are vital components of the research process, providing guidance and direction. While they share similarities in terms of their contribution to knowledge generation and grounding in existing literature, they differ in their structure, purpose, and application. Hypotheses are specific, testable statements that propose a relationship or outcome, often used in quantitative research. Research questions, on the other hand, are broad, open-ended inquiries that guide qualitative research and aim to explore and understand social phenomena. Both hypotheses and research questions play crucial roles in advancing research and expanding our understanding of the world.

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Research Questions vs Hypothesis: What’s The Difference?

by  Antony W

August 1, 2024

You’ll need to come up with a research question or a hypothesis to guide your next research project. But what is a hypothesis in the first place? What is the perfect definition for a research question? And, what’s the difference between the two?

In this guide to research questions vs hypothesis, we’ll look at the definition of each component and the difference between the two.

We’ll also look at when a research question and a hypothesis may be useful and provide you with some tips that you can use to come up with hypothesis and research questions that will suit your research topic . 

Let’s get to it.

What’s a Research Question?

We define a research question as the exact question you want to answer on a given topic or research project. Good research questions should be clear and easy to understand, allow for the collection of necessary data, and be specific and relevant to your field of study.

Research questions are part of heuristic research methods, where researchers use personal experiences and observations to understand a research subject. By using such approaches to explore the question, you should be able to provide an analytical justification of why and how you should respond to the question. 

While it’s common for researchers to focus on one question at a time, more complex topics may require two or more questions to cover in-depth.

When is a Research Question Useful? 

A research question may be useful when and if: 

• There isn’t enough previous research on the topic
• You want to report a wider range out of outcome when doing your research project
• You want to conduct a more open ended inquiries 

Perhaps the biggest drawback with research questions is that they tend to researchers in a position to “fish expectations” or excessively manipulate their findings.

Again, research questions sometimes tend to be less specific, and the reason is that there often no sufficient previous research on the questions.

What’s a Hypothesis? 

A hypothesis is a statement you can approve or disapprove. You develop a hypothesis from a research question by changing the question into a statement.

Primarily applied in deductive research, it involves the use of scientific, mathematical, and sociological findings to agree to or write off an assumption.

Researchers use the null approach for statements they can disapprove. They take a hypothesis and add a “not” to it to make it a working null hypothesis.

A null hypothesis is quite common in scientific methods. In this case, you have to formulate a hypothesis, and then conduct an investigation to disapprove the statement.

If you can disapprove the statement, you develop another hypothesis and then repeat the process until you can’t disapprove the statement.

In other words, if a hypothesis is true, then it must have been repeatedly tested and verified.

The consensus among researchers is that, like research questions, a hypothesis should not only be clear and easy to understand but also have a definite focus, answerable, and relevant to your field of study. 

When is a Hypothesis Useful?

A hypothesis may be useful when or if:

• There’s enough previous research on the topic
• You want to test a specific model or a particular theory
• You anticipate a likely outcome in advance 

The drawback to hypothesis as a scientific method is that it can hinder flexibility, or possibly blind a researcher not to see unanticipated results.

Research Question vs Hypothesis: Which One Should Come First 

Researchers use scientific methods to hone on different theories. So if the purpose of the research project were to analyze a concept, a scientific method would be necessary.

Such a case requires coming up with a research question first, followed by a scientific method.

Since a hypothesis is part of a research method, it will come after the research question.

Research Question vs Hypothesis: What’s the Difference? 

The following are the differences between a research question and a hypothesis.

We look at the differences in purpose and structure, writing, as well as conclusion. 

Research Questions vs Hypothesis: Some Useful Advice 

As much as there are differences between hypothesis and research questions, you have to state either one in the introduction and then repeat the same in the conclusion of your research paper.

Whichever element you opt to use, you should clearly demonstrate that you understand your topic, have achieved the goal of your research project, and not swayed a bit in your research process.

If it helps, start and conclude every chapter of your research project by providing additional information on how you’ve or will address the hypothesis or research question.

You should also include the aims and objectives of coming up with the research question or formulating the hypothesis. Doing so will go a long way to demonstrate that you have a strong focus on the research issue at hand. 

Research Questions vs Hypothesis: Conclusion 

If you need help with coming up with research questions, formulating a hypothesis, and completing your research paper writing , feel free to talk to us. 

About the author 

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

Home » Education » Difference Between Hypothesis and Research Question

Difference Between Hypothesis and Research Question

Main difference – hypothesis vs research question.

Research question and hypothesis are the foundations of a research study. Formulating the research question or developing the hypothesis can help you to decide on the approach of the research. A research question is the question the research study sets out to answer. Hypothesis is the statement the research study sets out to prove or disprove. The main difference between hypothesis and research question is that hypothesis is predictive in nature whereas research question is inquisitive in nature.

In this article, we’ll discuss,

1. What is a Hypothesis? – Meaning, Features, Characteristics, and Usage

2. What is a Research Question? – Meaning, Features, Characteristics, and Usage

What is a Hypothesis

A hypothesis is a prediction about the relationship between two or more variables. It can be described as an educated guess about what happens in an experiment. Researchers usually tend to use hypotheses when significant knowledge is already available on the subject. The hypothesis is based on this existing knowledge. After the hypothesis is developed, the researcher can develop data, analyze and use them to support or negate the hypothesis.

Not all studies have hypotheses. They are usually used in experimental quantitative research studies. They are useful in testing a specific theory or model.  A complete hypothesis always includes the variables, population and the predicted relationship between the variables. The main disadvantage of hypotheses is that their tendency to blind a researcher to unexpected results. 

What is a Research Question

A research question is the question a research study sets to answer. However, a research study can have more than one research question. The research methodologies , tools used to collect data, etc. all depend on the research question.

Research questions are often used in qualitative research, which seek to answer open-ended questions . But they can also be used in quantitative studies. Research questions can be used instead of hypotheses when there is little previous research on the subject. Research questions allow the researcher to conduct more open-ended queries, and a wide range of results can be reported.

A properly constructed research question should always be clear and concise. It should include the variables, population and the topic being studied.

Hypothesis is a tentative prediction about the relationship between two or more variables.

Research Question is the question a research study sets to answer.

Hypothesis is predictive in nature.

Research Question is inquisitive in nature.

Existing Research

Hypothesis can be used if there is significant knowledge or previous research on this subject.

Research Question can be used if there is little previous research on the subject.

Quantitative vs Qualitative

Hypothesis is mainly used in experimental quantitative studies.

Research Question can be used in both quantitative and qualitative studies.

Hypothesis doesn’t allow a wide range of outcomes.

Research Question allows a wide range of outcomes.

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Research Questions & Hypotheses

Generally, in quantitative studies, reviewers expect hypotheses rather than research questions. However, both research questions and hypotheses serve different purposes and can be beneficial when used together.

Research Questions

Clarify the research’s aim (farrugia et al., 2010).

• Research often begins with an interest in a topic, but a deep understanding of the subject is crucial to formulate an appropriate research question.
• Descriptive: “What factors most influence the academic achievement of senior high school students?”
• Comparative: “What is the performance difference between teaching methods A and B?”
• Relationship-based: “What is the relationship between self-efficacy and academic achievement?”
• Increasing knowledge about a subject can be achieved through systematic literature reviews, in-depth interviews with patients (and proxies), focus groups, and consultations with field experts.
• Some funding bodies, like the Canadian Institute for Health Research, recommend conducting a systematic review or a pilot study before seeking grants for full trials.
• The presence of multiple research questions in a study can complicate the design, statistical analysis, and feasibility.
• It’s advisable to focus on a single primary research question for the study.
• The primary question, clearly stated at the end of a grant proposal’s introduction, usually specifies the study population, intervention, and other relevant factors.
• The FINER criteria underscore aspects that can enhance the chances of a successful research project, including specifying the population of interest, aligning with scientific and public interest, clinical relevance, and contribution to the field, while complying with ethical and national research standards.
• The P ICOT approach is crucial in developing the study’s framework and protocol, influencing inclusion and exclusion criteria and identifying patient groups for inclusion.
• Defining the specific population, intervention, comparator, and outcome helps in selecting the right outcome measurement tool.
• The more precise the population definition and stricter the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the more significant the impact on the interpretation, applicability, and generalizability of the research findings.
• A restricted study population enhances internal validity but may limit the study’s external validity and generalizability to clinical practice.
• A broadly defined study population may better reflect clinical practice but could increase bias and reduce internal validity.
• An inadequately formulated research question can negatively impact study design, potentially leading to ineffective outcomes and affecting publication prospects.

Checklist: Good research questions for social science projects (Panke, 2018)

Research Hypotheses

Present the researcher’s predictions based on specific statements.

• These statements define the research problem or issue and indicate the direction of the researcher’s predictions.
• Formulating the research question and hypothesis from existing data (e.g., a database) can lead to multiple statistical comparisons and potentially spurious findings due to chance.
• The research or clinical hypothesis, derived from the research question, shapes the study’s key elements: sampling strategy, intervention, comparison, and outcome variables.
• Hypotheses can express a single outcome or multiple outcomes.
• After statistical testing, the null hypothesis is either rejected or not rejected based on whether the study’s findings are statistically significant.
• Hypothesis testing helps determine if observed findings are due to true differences and not chance.
• Hypotheses can be 1-sided (specific direction of difference) or 2-sided (presence of a difference without specifying direction).
• 2-sided hypotheses are generally preferred unless there’s a strong justification for a 1-sided hypothesis.
• A solid research hypothesis, informed by a good research question, influences the research design and paves the way for defining clear research objectives.

Types of Research Hypothesis

• In a Y-centered research design, the focus is on the dependent variable (DV) which is specified in the research question. Theories are then used to identify independent variables (IV) and explain their causal relationship with the DV.
• Example: “An increase in teacher-led instructional time (IV) is likely to improve student reading comprehension scores (DV), because extensive guided practice under expert supervision enhances learning retention and skill mastery.”
• Hypothesis Explanation: The dependent variable (student reading comprehension scores) is the focus, and the hypothesis explores how changes in the independent variable (teacher-led instructional time) affect it.
• In X-centered research designs, the independent variable is specified in the research question. Theories are used to determine potential dependent variables and the causal mechanisms at play.
• Example: “Implementing technology-based learning tools (IV) is likely to enhance student engagement in the classroom (DV), because interactive and multimedia content increases student interest and participation.”
• Hypothesis Explanation: The independent variable (technology-based learning tools) is the focus, with the hypothesis exploring its impact on a potential dependent variable (student engagement).
• Probabilistic hypotheses suggest that changes in the independent variable are likely to lead to changes in the dependent variable in a predictable manner, but not with absolute certainty.
• Example: “The more teachers engage in professional development programs (IV), the more their teaching effectiveness (DV) is likely to improve, because continuous training updates pedagogical skills and knowledge.”
• Hypothesis Explanation: This hypothesis implies a probable relationship between the extent of professional development (IV) and teaching effectiveness (DV).
• Deterministic hypotheses state that a specific change in the independent variable will lead to a specific change in the dependent variable, implying a more direct and certain relationship.
• Example: “If the school curriculum changes from traditional lecture-based methods to project-based learning (IV), then student collaboration skills (DV) are expected to improve because project-based learning inherently requires teamwork and peer interaction.”
• Hypothesis Explanation: This hypothesis presumes a direct and definite outcome (improvement in collaboration skills) resulting from a specific change in the teaching method.
• Example : “Students who identify as visual learners will score higher on tests that are presented in a visually rich format compared to tests presented in a text-only format.”
• Explanation : This hypothesis aims to describe the potential difference in test scores between visual learners taking visually rich tests and text-only tests, without implying a direct cause-and-effect relationship.
• Example : “Teaching method A will improve student performance more than method B.”
• Explanation : This hypothesis compares the effectiveness of two different teaching methods, suggesting that one will lead to better student performance than the other. It implies a direct comparison but does not necessarily establish a causal mechanism.
• Example : “Students with higher self-efficacy will show higher levels of academic achievement.”
• Explanation : This hypothesis predicts a relationship between the variable of self-efficacy and academic achievement. Unlike a causal hypothesis, it does not necessarily suggest that one variable causes changes in the other, but rather that they are related in some way.

Tips for developing research questions and hypotheses for research studies

• Perform a systematic literature review (if one has not been done) to increase knowledge and familiarity with the topic and to assist with research development.
• Learn about current trends and technological advances on the topic.
• Seek careful input from experts, mentors, colleagues, and collaborators to refine your research question as this will aid in developing the research question and guide the research study.
• Use the FINER criteria in the development of the research question.
• Ensure that the research question follows PICOT format.
• Develop a research hypothesis from the research question.
• Ensure that the research question and objectives are answerable, feasible, and clinically relevant.

If your research hypotheses are derived from your research questions, particularly when multiple hypotheses address a single question, it’s recommended to use both research questions and hypotheses. However, if this isn’t the case, using hypotheses over research questions is advised. It’s important to note these are general guidelines, not strict rules. If you opt not to use hypotheses, consult with your supervisor for the best approach.

Farrugia, P., Petrisor, B. A., Farrokhyar, F., & Bhandari, M. (2010). Practical tips for surgical research: Research questions, hypotheses and objectives.  Canadian journal of surgery. Journal canadien de chirurgie ,  53 (4), 278–281.

Hulley, S. B., Cummings, S. R., Browner, W. S., Grady, D., & Newman, T. B. (2007). Designing clinical research. Philadelphia.

Panke, D. (2018). Research design & method selection: Making good choices in the social sciences.  Research Design & Method Selection , 1-368.

10 Significant Differences Between Research Question vs Research Hypothesis

Stating, developing and addressing a research question and developing & justifying the research hypothesis has vital significance in the research process. Both help researchers to approach PhD/research/ projects. 

“Research” is a word important for PhD which includes complex processes of finding new knowledge. A PhD candidate has to prepare a project & research proposal, identify a research gap , state a question, prepare a hypothesis and then do research. 

It includes tedious pre-preparation, lucrative research and frustrating post-preparations phases. So overall the research process though is inquisitive but can be managed by discipline and zero date planning. 

So to prepare for PhD, do it with ease and complete it joyfully; one has to understand every element correctly before starting their research. And for that tons and tons of articles and previous research must be read first. 

In addition, as we talked about, precisely identified research problem helps in stating an excellent research question or research hypothesis. Notwithstanding, students usually don’t understand what a research question or hypothesis is! 

The present blog content will focus on differences between research question and hypothesis and may let you understand what each term is. I hope this article will help you learn the PhD research process more accurately. 

Stay tuned,

Research question:  Does this article explain some common differences between a research question and a research hypothesis?

Research hypothesis:  This article explains the major differences between the research question and the research hypothesis. 

Example of research question: 

Some other examples of research questions are: , example of research hypothesis: , some of the examples of research hypotheses: , summary: research question vs hypothesis: , wrapping up: , what is a research question- simple explanation.

Put simply, a research question is a clear and concise question of the study that must be answered at the end. The answer usually is Yes/No type but clearly fills the gap. 

Let’s take an example, 

What are some common problems the LGBT community faces globally? 

Suppose, this one is one research question around which the researcher has to prepare its study. What can he or she do with this topic? 

• Conduct gatherings of the community. 
• Conduct one on one interviews. 
• Conduct News sessions 
• Study previous literature. 
• Organize some Games and invite LGBT community people to take part. 

That’s it, Nothing else he or she can do.  

No statistical analysis is required and performed for this study so the outcome of this study possibly is “problems”. And it can be solved, perhaps. Note that in-depth mathematical models, statistical analysis and other scientific studies aren’t required here. 

• What are the side effects of social media addiction on youth? 
• What are the factors that negatively impact the mental health of US people? 
• How effective carbon emission control strategies are? 

Now let’s understand the research hypothesis. 

What is a research hypothesis?- Simpler explanation

A research hypothesis is postulated in order to predict the results either negative or positive. Notedly is used so often in scientific, experimental and quantitative research.

The research hypothesis is a predictive model for getting results.  

Let’s take an example, 

The effect of time and temperature on biological sample transportation.

This study includes exclusive statistical analysis and data-driven studies to investigate the effect of various temperatures and times on biological specimen transportation. 

 Outcomes of the study will prove that at which temperature a biological sample can be safely transported. 

The outcomes are, 

• Statistics 
• The temperature which isn’t good 
• The temperature which has is best
• The tolerable zone for transportation

To interpret these kinds of results in-depth mathematical models, statistical analysis, scientific experiments and other biological studies are needed. 

• The effect of time and temperature on biological sample transportation. 
• Effect of various doses of antiviral Oseltamivir drug against viral pathogenicity. 
• Various global warming agents and their impact.  

I think you get a brief idea about how each term is different. Some of the technical differences between the research question and hypothesis are explained here. 

Differences between research question and research hypothesis: 

A research question is developed depending upon the problem or gap identified while the hypothesis is prepared based on the existing knowledge. 

More than one research question is present in a single study, while the entire research is developed around a single hypothesis that is either proven or disproven at last. 

In-depth knowledge of the subject and huge data or research studies are required to state a research hypothesis; whereas the research question can be stated using a small group of research data or knowledge. 

This indicates that the relatedness among different variables is pretty uncertain for the research question while is highly related in the case of hypothesis. 

A research question is “brief” yet includes all the important information and is open to debate which typically gives an excellent varied degree of output. 

On the other hand, the research hypothesis is a kind of formal statement- (will be proved or disproved) which assumes the relatedness between two or more variables selected for the study. 

For example,

The number of patients, population size, sample type or method selected for the study. 

Both- qualitative and quantitative studies rely on the research question, however, the hypothesis can be postulated mostly for the quantitative or experimental studies. 

Depending upon the nature of the study, the research questions are of three various types which are casual, descriptive and comparative questions while the hypotheses are causal, null, directional or non-directional. 

A thesis question must be answered; A hypothesis must be tested. 

The research question is more an elaborative research term while the hypothesis is more scientific and predictive in nature. 

Henceforth, research questions are usually used in elaborate studies in subjects such as language, arts and literature. And as we said, that’s pretty straightforward. 

The impact of the “Macbeth play” on European people. 

On the other hand, the research hypothesis is based on possibilities and probabilities whose final results either or neither prove the study and therefore include a purely scientific explanation, mathematics, equations and statistical analysis. 

Studies in science, biology and sociology rely on hypotheses (that must be tested first). 

For example, the impact of temperature and time duration on sample transportation and storage. 

If you are designing scientific research for your PhD, perhaps stating a hypothesis may help you more, although you can raise a question as well to investigate the knowledge. 

Research, as I said, is a complex process, needs the experience to design. 

Early learning may pretty helpful for students to understand the thing well. And hence this article and series of articles on this blog are meant for PhD students. 

Dr. Tushar Chauhan is a Scientist, Blogger and Scientific-writer. He has completed PhD in Genetics. Dr. Chauhan is a PhD coach and tutor.

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Research Hypothesis vs. Research Question: What's the Difference?

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The Difference Between Research Questions & Hypothesis

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Research questions and hypothesis are tools used in similar ways for different research methods. Both hypothesis and research questions are written before research begins and are used to help guide the research. Hypothesis are used in deductive research, where researchers use logic and scientific findings to either prove or disprove assumptions. Heuristic research is based on experience, where researchers use observations to learn about the research subject.

Definitions

A hypothesis is defined as an educated guess, while a research question is simply the researcher wondering about the world. Hypothesis are part of the scientific research method. They are employed in research in science, sociology, mathematics and more. Research questions are part of heuristic research methods, and are also used in many fields including literature, and sociology.

As its name suggests, research questions are always written as questions. Hypothesis are written as statements preceded with the words "I predict." For example, a research question would ask, "What is the effect of heat on the effectiveness of bleach?" A hypothesis would state, "I predict heat will diminish the effectiveness of bleach."

Before Writing

Before writing a hypothesis, the researcher must determine what others have discovered about this subject. On the other hand, a research question requires less preparation, but focus and structure is critical.

For example, a researcher using a hypothesis would look up studies about bleach, information on the chemical properties of the chemical when heated and data about its effectiveness before writing the hypothesis. When using a research question, the researcher would think about how to phrase the question to ensure its scope is not too broad, too narrow or impossible to answer.

Writing Conclusions

When writing the conclusion for research conducted using a hypothesis, the researcher will write whether the hypothesis was correct or incorrect, followed by an explanation of the results of the research. The researcher using only a research question will write the answer to the question, followed by the findings of the research.

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• The Research Assistant: The Relationship Between the Research Question, Hypotheses, Specific Aims, and Long-Term Goals of the Project

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Research Question vs Hypothesis: Understanding the Core Differences

Navigating the world of research can sometimes feel like trying to find your way through a labyrinth. Two terms that often trip up budding researchers are the research question and the hypothesis.

They may seem similar at first glance, but they serve distinct purposes in the research process.

Let's break down their differences and see how each plays a unique role in scientific inquiry.

What is a Research Question?

A research question is essentially the backbone of your study. It's what you're setting out to explore and understand. Think of it as the guiding star that keeps your research focused and on track. But what makes a good research question?

Characteristics of a Good Research Question

Original and Interesting: Your question should spark curiosity not just in you but also in the wider research community.

Clear and Focused: It needs to be specific enough to be comprehensible and narrow enough to be answerable. A question that's too broad can overwhelm you, while one that's too narrow might not provide enough material for comprehensive study.

Researchable: The question must be practical in terms of the time and resources you have at your disposal.

Analytical: It should allow you to delve into an analysis of a problem rather than just describe it. This means it can't be answered with a simple "yes" or "no."

For example, instead of asking, "How do social media platforms affect mental health?" which is too broad, you could ask, "What effect do Instagram filters have on the self-esteem of teenagers aged 13-18?"

What is a Hypothesis?

A hypothesis , on the other hand, is a tentative answer to your research question. It's a statement that you can test through experimentation or observation. Think of it as an educated guess based on existing knowledge and preliminary research.

Characteristics of a Good Hypothesis

Testable: You should be able to design an experiment or study to test whether your hypothesis is true or false.

Falsifiable: It must be possible to prove the hypothesis wrong. If a hypothesis can't be disproved, it's not scientifically useful.

Specific: Like a research question, a good hypothesis is clear and focused. It should define the variables and the expected relationship between them.

For instance, if your research question is about the effect of Instagram filters on teenagers' self-esteem, your hypothesis could be, "Teenagers who use Instagram filters will have lower self-esteem compared to those who do not."

Research Question vs Hypothesis: The Key Differences

Research Question: Guides your study and defines what you are trying to find out.

Hypothesis: Provides a tentative answer to your research question that you can test.

Formulation

Research Question: Usually formulated as a question that needs investigation.

Hypothesis: Formulated as a statement predicting the outcome of your research.

Research Question: Broader in scope; it sets the stage for the research.

Hypothesis: Narrower in scope; it focuses on specific variables and their relationships.

How They Work Together

The research question and hypothesis are not mutually exclusive; they complement each other. The research question sets the direction of your study, outlining what you aim to discover. The hypothesis then narrows this focus, providing a specific statement that you can test to answer your research question.

Let's bring this home with an example . Suppose you're interested in the impact of sleep on academic performance.

Research Question: How does the amount of sleep affect the academic performance of high school students?

Hypothesis: High school students who sleep for at least 8 hours a night will have higher academic performance compared to those who sleep less than 8 hours.

Q: Can I have a research question without a hypothesis? A: Yes, some qualitative studies may not require a hypothesis, but having one helps provide a clear focus for your research.

Q: Should my research question be broad or narrow? A: It should be narrow enough to be answerable but broad enough to allow for comprehensive investigation.

Q: Can a hypothesis be proven true? A: In science, a hypothesis is never proven true; it is either supported or not supported by the data.

Understanding the differences between a research question and a hypothesis is crucial for anyone venturing into the world of research. While the research question sets the stage for what you aim to explore, the hypothesis provides a specific, testable prediction. Together, they form the backbone of any rigorous scientific inquiry. So, the next time you embark on a research project, make sure you have both a clear research question and a well-defined hypothesis to guide you through your academic journey.

Research Questions vs. Hypotheses

• September 23, 2024

An important part of study design is framing your central inquiry. You may be attempting to determine what your research question will be and whether or not you will include a hypothesis. This blog examines the research question vs. hypothesis question and aims to help you better understand key differences between these two facets of research design. 

What is a Research Question?

Research Questions (RQs) are inquiries that guide the direction of a research project. They are open-ended and seek to explore or describe a phenomenon.

What is a Hypothesis?

Hypotheses are tentative, testable predictions or explanations for an observed phenomenon. They are typically stated as a relationship between variables.

What is the Role of Research Questions vs. Hypotheses in the Research Process?

Both RQs and hypotheses play crucial roles in research, but they serve different purposes:

• Frame the overall scope of the study
• Guide the literature review
• Help determine appropriate research methods
• Shape data collection and analysis
• Provide specific predictions to test
• Guide the selection of statistical analyses
• Help in operationalizing variables
• Facilitate the interpretation of results

When to Use Research Questions vs. Hypotheses

• Exploring a new area of study
• Conducting qualitative research
• The aim is to describe or explore rather than test
• Conducting quantitative research
• There’s sufficient prior knowledge to make predictions
• The goal is to test specific relationships between variable

Example Research Question:

“How do graduate students’ writing habits affect their academic performance?”

Corresponding Hypothesis:

“Graduate students who engage in daily writing sessions of at least 30 minutes will have higher GPAs compared to those who write sporadically.”

In this example, the research question opens up a broad area of inquiry, while the hypothesis provides a specific, testable prediction based on that question.

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• What is the Difference Between Research Question and Hypothesis?

The main difference between a research question and a hypothesis lies in their purpose, structure, and the level of certainty they express. Here are the key differences:

• Purpose : A research question is a question that seeks to explore or explain an aspect of your topic, without making any assumptions or claims. On the other hand, a hypothesis is a statement that expresses a possible relationship between variables or phenomena, based on existing knowledge, theory, or observation.
• Structure : Research questions are always written as questions, while hypotheses are written as statements preceded with the words "I predict" or similar phrases.
• Certainty : Research questions are less certain and do not represent a prediction or an attempt to prove or disprove a statement. In contrast, hypotheses are more certain and represent a prediction or an attempt to prove or disprove a statement based on existing knowledge, theory, or observation.
• Research Method : Research questions are typically used in heuristic research methods, which are based on experience and observations. Hypotheses, on the other hand, are used in deductive research methods, where researchers use logic and scientific findings to either prove or disprove assumptions.

In summary, a research question is a less certain and more exploratory inquiry, while a hypothesis is a more certain and predictive statement about the relationship between variables or phenomena. The choice between using a research question or a hypothesis depends on the purpose, scope, and design of your research project.

Comparative Table: Research Question vs Hypothesis

The difference between a research question and a hypothesis can be understood through the following table:

In summary, a research question is a broad inquiry that guides the research process, while a hypothesis is a specific, testable statement that predicts the relationship between variables and can be supported or refuted through empirical data.

• Research Problem vs Research Question
• Hypothesis vs Theory
• Conjecture vs Hypothesis
• Hypothesis vs Prediction
• Hypothesis vs Assumption
• Theory vs Research
• Hypothesis vs Aim
• Research vs Scientific Method
• Case Study vs Research
• Research vs Problem Solving
• Search vs Research
• Inductive vs Deductive Research
• Essay vs Research Paper
• Research Proposal vs Research Report
• Case Study vs Scientific Research
• Social Research vs Scientific Research
• Research Article vs Research Paper
• Qualitative vs Quantitative Research
• Questionnaire vs Survey

educational research techniques

Research techniques and education.

Research Purpose, Hypotheses, and Questions

Four key components to a research project are the purpose statement, research questions, hypotheses, and research objectives. In this post, we will define each of these.

Definitions

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between college completion and organizational commitment of undergraduate students in Thailand. 

Here is an example of a qualitative purpose statement.

The purpose of this study is to explore student experiences at a university in Thailand about completing their tertiary degree.

Both of these examples are short one-sentence responses to what the study will attempt to do. This is a critical first step in shaping the study.

Research Question

The research question(s) in a quantitative or qualitative study narrows the purpose down to a specific question(s) for the researcher to find answers. Below are examples from both the quantitative and qualitative perspective. We are continuing the research themes from the previous section on the purpose statement.

Quantitative

Does organizational commitment affect college completion of students?

Qualitative

What kinds of experiences have students had while completing their degree?

On closer examination, you may have noticed that the research questions sound a lot like the purpose statement. Research questions often split a part a long complex purpose statement into several questions. This is why questions sound so redundant when compared to the purpose statement. Despite this apparent problem, this thought process helps researchers to organize their thinking and proceed in a manner that is much more efficient.

The next two components only relate to quantitative research and they are the hypotheses and research objective(s). For this reason our illustration of qualitative concepts will stop at this point.

Hypotheses are statements a researcher makes about the potential outcome(s) of a study based on the examination of literature. Below is an example from the same theme as before.

Students who have a higher perception of organizational commitment will also have a higher likelihood of completing college.

Again, the wording of the research questions, hypotheses and purpose statement are similarly. The difference is only slightly and is due to context. Seeing these similarities quickly will help you to move faster in finishing a study. The difference between these elements is a matter of perspective rather than a strong difference, as they do sound awfully similar.

Research Objectives

Research objectives are the goals a researcher has for a study. This component is not always included in a study. Below is an example.

To examine the correlation between organizational commitment and the rate of college completion

Share this:

10 thoughts on “ research purpose, hypotheses, and questions ”.

This is the wrong use of the word, it should be “their” not “there”.

The purpose of this study is to explore student experiences at a university in Thailand about completing there tertiary degree.

Whoops, thanks for catching that

Thank you for this, very helpful 🙂

This has been helpful.

This was helpful. Thank you

Pingback: Developing a Data Analysis Plan | educational research techniques

This was helpful.

Glad to be of service

As an emerging researcher, my worry is that I have six objectives but five research questions and hypotheses. Am I correct or they must all be the same in times of numbers? Thank you

Thank you, this information helped me so much.

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Research: Articulating Questions, Generating Hypotheses, and Choosing Study Designs

Mary p tully.

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Address correspondence to: Dr Mary P Tully, Manchester Pharmacy School, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT UK, e-mail: [email protected]

INTRODUCTION

Articulating a clear and concise research question is fundamental to conducting a robust and useful research study. Although “getting stuck into” the data collection is the exciting part of research, this preparation stage is crucial. Clear and concise research questions are needed for a number of reasons. Initially, they are needed to enable you to search the literature effectively. They will allow you to write clear aims and generate hypotheses. They will also ensure that you can select the most appropriate research design for your study.

This paper begins by describing the process of articulating clear and concise research questions, assuming that you have minimal experience. It then describes how to choose research questions that should be answered and how to generate study aims and hypotheses from your questions. Finally, it describes briefly how your question will help you to decide on the research design and methods best suited to answering it.

TURNING CURIOSITY INTO QUESTIONS

A research question has been described as “the uncertainty that the investigator wants to resolve by performing her study” 1 or “a logical statement that progresses from what is known or believed to be true to that which is unknown and requires validation”. 2 Developing your question usually starts with having some general ideas about the areas within which you want to do your research. These might flow from your clinical work, for example. You might be interested in finding ways to improve the pharmaceutical care of patients on your wards. Alternatively, you might be interested in identifying the best antihypertensive agent for a particular subgroup of patients. Lipowski 2 described in detail how work as a practising pharmacist can be used to great advantage to generate interesting research questions and hence useful research studies. Ideas could come from questioning received wisdom within your clinical area or the rationale behind quick fixes or workarounds, or from wanting to improve the quality, safety, or efficiency of working practice.

Alternatively, your ideas could come from searching the literature to answer a query from a colleague. Perhaps you could not find a published answer to the question you were asked, and so you want to conduct some research yourself. However, just searching the literature to generate questions is not to be recommended for novices—the volume of material can feel totally overwhelming.

Use a research notebook, where you regularly write ideas for research questions as you think of them during your clinical practice or after reading other research papers. It has been said that the best way to have a great idea is to have lots of ideas and then choose the best. The same would apply to research questions!

When you first identify your area of research interest, it is likely to be either too narrow or too broad. Narrow questions (such as “How is drug X prescribed for patients with condition Y in my hospital?”) are usually of limited interest to anyone other than the researcher. Broad questions (such as “How can pharmacists provide better patient care?”) must be broken down into smaller, more manageable questions. If you are interested in how pharmacists can provide better care, for example, you might start to narrow that topic down to how pharmacists can provide better care for one condition (such as affective disorders) for a particular subgroup of patients (such as teenagers). Then you could focus it even further by considering a specific disorder (depression) and a particular type of service that pharmacists could provide (improving patient adherence). At this stage, you could write your research question as, for example, “What role, if any, can pharmacists play in improving adherence to fluoxetine used for depression in teenagers?”

TYPES OF RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Being able to consider the type of research question that you have generated is particularly useful when deciding what research methods to use. There are 3 broad categories of question: descriptive, relational, and causal.

Descriptive

One of the most basic types of question is designed to ask systematically whether a phenomenon exists. For example, we could ask “Do pharmacists ‘care’ when they deliver pharmaceutical care?” This research would initially define the key terms (i.e., describing what “pharmaceutical care” and “care” are), and then the study would set out to look for the existence of care at the same time as pharmaceutical care was being delivered.

When you know that a phenomenon exists, you can then ask description and/or classification questions. The answers to these types of questions involve describing the characteristics of the phenomenon or creating typologies of variable subtypes. In the study above, for example, you could investigate the characteristics of the “care” that pharmacists provide. Classifications usually use mutually exclusive categories, so that various subtypes of the variable will have an unambiguous category to which they can be assigned. For example, a question could be asked as to “what is a pharmacist intervention” and a definition and classification system developed for use in further research.

When seeking further detail about your phenomenon, you might ask questions about its composition. These questions necessitate deconstructing a phenomenon (such as a behaviour) into its component parts. Within hospital pharmacy practice, you might be interested in asking questions about the composition of a new behavioural intervention to improve patient adherence, for example, “What is the detailed process that the pharmacist implicitly follows during delivery of this new intervention?”

After you have described your phenomena, you may then be interested in asking questions about the relationships between several phenomena. If you work on a renal ward, for example, you may be interested in looking at the relationship between hemoglobin levels and renal function, so your question would look something like this: “Are hemoglobin levels related to level of renal function?” Alternatively, you may have a categorical variable such as grade of doctor and be interested in the differences between them with regard to prescribing errors, so your research question would be “Do junior doctors make more prescribing errors than senior doctors?” Relational questions could also be asked within qualitative research, where a detailed understanding of the nature of the relationship between, for example, the gender and career aspirations of clinical pharmacists could be sought.

Once you have described your phenomena and have identified a relationship between them, you could ask about the causes of that relationship. You may be interested to know whether an intervention or some other activity has caused a change in your variable, and your research question would be about causality. For example, you may be interested in asking, “Does captopril treatment reduce blood pressure?” Generally, however, if you ask a causality question about a medication or any other health care intervention, it ought to be rephrased as a causality–comparative question. Without comparing what happens in the presence of an intervention with what happens in the absence of the intervention, it is impossible to attribute causality to the intervention. Although a causality question would usually be answered using a comparative research design, asking a causality–comparative question makes the research design much more explicit. So the above question could be rephrased as, “Is captopril better than placebo at reducing blood pressure?”

The acronym PICO has been used to describe the components of well-crafted causality–comparative research questions. 3 The letters in this acronym stand for Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome. They remind the researcher that the research question should specify the type of participant to be recruited, the type of exposure involved, the type of control group with which participants are to be compared, and the type of outcome to be measured. Using the PICO approach, the above research question could be written as “Does captopril [ intervention ] decrease rates of cardiovascular events [ outcome ] in patients with essential hypertension [ population ] compared with patients receiving no treatment [ comparison ]?”

DECIDING WHETHER TO ANSWER A RESEARCH QUESTION

Just because a question can be asked does not mean that it needs to be answered. Not all research questions deserve to have time spent on them. One useful set of criteria is to ask whether your research question is feasible, interesting, novel, ethical, and relevant. 1 The need for research to be ethical will be covered in a later paper in the series, so is not discussed here. The literature review is crucial to finding out whether the research question fulfils the remaining 4 criteria.

Conducting a comprehensive literature review will allow you to find out what is already known about the subject and any gaps that need further exploration. You may find that your research question has already been answered. However, that does not mean that you should abandon the question altogether. It may be necessary to confirm those findings using an alternative method or to translate them to another setting. If your research question has no novelty, however, and is not interesting or relevant to your peers or potential funders, you are probably better finding an alternative.

The literature will also help you learn about the research designs and methods that have been used previously and hence to decide whether your potential study is feasible. As a novice researcher, it is particularly important to ask if your planned study is feasible for you to conduct. Do you or your collaborators have the necessary technical expertise? Do you have the other resources that will be needed? If you are just starting out with research, it is likely that you will have a limited budget, in terms of both time and money. Therefore, even if the question is novel, interesting, and relevant, it may not be one that is feasible for you to answer.

GENERATING AIMS AND HYPOTHESES

All research studies should have at least one research question, and they should also have at least one aim. As a rule of thumb, a small research study should not have more than 2 aims as an absolute maximum. The aim of the study is a broad statement of intention and aspiration; it is the overall goal that you intend to achieve. The wording of this broad statement of intent is derived from the research question. If it is a descriptive research question, the aim will be, for example, “to investigate” or “to explore”. If it is a relational research question, then the aim should state the phenomena being correlated, such as “to ascertain the impact of gender on career aspirations”. If it is a causal research question, then the aim should include the direction of the relationship being tested, such as “to investigate whether captopril decreases rates of cardiovascular events in patients with essential hypertension, relative to patients receiving no treatment”.

The hypothesis is a tentative prediction of the nature and direction of relationships between sets of data, phrased as a declarative statement. Therefore, hypotheses are really only required for studies that address relational or causal research questions. For the study above, the hypothesis being tested would be “Captopril decreases rates of cardiovascular events in patients with essential hypertension, relative to patients receiving no treatment”. Studies that seek to answer descriptive research questions do not test hypotheses, but they can be used for hypothesis generation. Those hypotheses would then be tested in subsequent studies.

CHOOSING THE STUDY DESIGN

The research question is paramount in deciding what research design and methods you are going to use. There are no inherently bad research designs. The rightness or wrongness of the decision about the research design is based simply on whether it is suitable for answering the research question that you have posed.

It is possible to select completely the wrong research design to answer a specific question. For example, you may want to answer one of the research questions outlined above: “Do pharmacists ‘care’ when they deliver pharmaceutical care?” Although a randomized controlled study is considered by many as a “gold standard” research design, such a study would just not be capable of generating data to answer the question posed. Similarly, if your question was, “Is captopril better than placebo at reducing blood pressure?”, conducting a series of in-depth qualitative interviews would be equally incapable of generating the necessary data. However, if these designs are swapped around, we have 2 combinations (pharmaceutical care investigated using interviews; captopril investigated using a randomized controlled study) that are more likely to produce robust answers to the questions.

The language of the research question can be helpful in deciding what research design and methods to use. Subsequent papers in this series will cover these topics in detail. For example, if the question starts with “how many” or “how often”, it is probably a descriptive question to assess the prevalence or incidence of a phenomenon. An epidemiological research design would be appropriate, perhaps using a postal survey or structured interviews to collect the data. If the question starts with “why” or “how”, then it is a descriptive question to gain an in-depth understanding of a phenomenon. A qualitative research design, using in-depth interviews or focus groups, would collect the data needed. Finally, the term “what is the impact of” suggests a causal question, which would require comparison of data collected with and without the intervention (i.e., a before–after or randomized controlled study).

CONCLUSIONS

This paper has briefly outlined how to articulate research questions, formulate your aims, and choose your research methods. It is crucial to realize that articulating a good research question involves considerable iteration through the stages described above. It is very common that the first research question generated bears little resemblance to the final question used in the study. The language is changed several times, for example, because the first question turned out not to be feasible and the second question was a descriptive question when what was really wanted was a causality question. The books listed in the “Further Reading” section provide greater detail on the material described here, as well as a wealth of other information to ensure that your first foray into conducting research is successful.

This article is the second in the CJHP Research Primer Series, an initiative of the CJHP Editorial Board and the CSHP Research Committee. The planned 2-year series is intended to appeal to relatively inexperienced researchers, with the goal of building research capacity among practising pharmacists. The articles, presenting simple but rigorous guidance to encourage and support novice researchers, are being solicited from authors with appropriate expertise.

Previous article in this series:

Bond CM. The research jigsaw: how to get started. Can J Hosp Pharm . 2014;67(1):28–30.

Competing interests: Mary Tully has received personal fees from the UK Renal Pharmacy Group to present a conference workshop on writing research questions and nonfinancial support (in the form of travel and accommodation) from the Dubai International Pharmaceuticals and Technologies Conference and Exhibition (DUPHAT) to present a workshop on conducting pharmacy practice research.

• 1. Hulley S, Cummings S, Browner W, Grady D, Newman T. Designing clinical research. 4th ed. Philadelphia (PA): Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins; 2013. [ Google Scholar ]
• 2. Lipowski EE. Developing great research questions. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2008;65(17):1667–70. doi: 10.2146/ajhp070276. [ DOI ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• 3. Richardson WS, Wilson MC, Nishikawa J, Hayward RS. The well-built clinical question: a key to evidence-based decisions. ACP J Club. 1995;123(3):A12–3. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]

Further Reading

• Cresswell J. Research design: qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches. London (UK): Sage; 2009. [ Google Scholar ]
• Haynes RB, Sackett DL, Guyatt GH, Tugwell P. Clinical epidemiology: how to do clinical practice research. 3rd ed. Philadelphia (PA): Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins; 2006. [ Google Scholar ]
• Kumar R. Research methodology: a step-by-step guide for beginners. 3rd ed. London (UK): Sage; 2010. [ Google Scholar ]
• Smith FJ. Conducting your pharmacy practice research project. London (UK): Pharmaceutical Press; 2005. [ Google Scholar ]
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