A Review on the Characteristics of Hypothesis and its Role in Experimental Studies

A hypothesis is considered one of the basic structures of any experimental study, invented for reaching at reliable conclusions. It is a tentative answer to research questions, a conjectural estimation of the relations between variables, and a guiding tool for research procedures. A hypothesis gives a reasonable deduction about characters, modes, and behaviors of the subject under study, inspired by a theoretical thought and on the basis of a primary understanding of the subject. Almost all studies, except for descriptive and heuristic studies, begin with a hypothesis or a series of interconnected hypotheses.This article explores conceptual aspects of “hypothesis” with a methodological approach, and reviews a variety of viewpoints regarding its different types, qualifications, and functions in an experimental study.