Research Method - Hypothesis and Theory

Research Method

Hypothesis and Theory

Hypotheses can be developed and tested to recognize the relationships between categories. Silverman (1991:1) defined hypothesis as a ‘testable proposition’. The appearance of an apparent relationship or connection between categories will need to be tested in order to find out whether there is an actual relationship (Saunders, 1997:344). The importance of hypothesis is that it will bring a specific direction and focus to a research study. The theory on the other hand, is usually drawn from the hypothesis. Theories are usually generated from attempts at explaining observations and thus prediction or expectations can be made (Gill, 1991:25).

Deduction and Induction

There are two methods of establishing what is true or false and of drawing conclusion. These two methods are deduction and induction. Induction is made by empirical evidence based, while deduction is logic based. Through induction, a general conclusion can be made from empirical observation. It goes by the process of assumption to conclusion (Ghauri, 1995:8). From deduction, conclusions are draw through logical reasoning and it is not necessary to be reality. When an observation is made to generate a theory with consistent facts, it is called induction, on the contrary deduction involves the gathering of facts to confirm or disprove hypothesized relationships among variables that have been deduced from proposition or earlier theories (Ghauri, 1995:9).

Research method and methodology

Research is one of the many methods to find answer to a question. The implication of research is that a process being undertaken within a framework of a set of philosophies; uses validated and reliable procedures, methods and techniques, and is designed to be unbiased and objective (Kumar, 2005:7). The research methodology describes the systematic way to solve a research problem. Beside of knowing variety of research methods such as the calculation of mean, mode or median, and application of particular of research techniques, a researcher will also have to know which if these method or techniques are relevant and if it's not, he/she can tell why.

Research Topic and Research Question

Usually a research question has to come first before end up being the research topic. Basically any assumption, assertion or question that anyone wish to seek the answer can become a research topic (Kumar, 2005:40). According to Kerlinger (1986), to solve a problem, one must