POSC300 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Ecological Fallacy, Testability, Dependent And Independent Variables
Document Summary
An educated guess explaining the relationship between an independent and dependent variable. Stated in a way that reflects how it will be tested. Must be possible to collect evidence that would disprove the theory. Hypothesis must tell us how the iv is relatable to the dv. Should not tell us why this is good or bad, must be good or bad. Hypotheses must propose a relationship that pertains to many occurrences rather than just one. There must be some logical reason why you are proposing the relationship in your hypothesis. Okay to be wrong, but must justify why things happen the way you hypothesize. Most often established in a literature review. Hypotheses should indicate the direction of the expected relationship between variables. Not just saying that the two are related - must tell us how the behavior of one affects the behavior of the other. Why its so important you really understand how your variables are measured.