Formulation of action hypothesis

FORMULATION OF ACTION HYPOTHESIS

This section helps you in understanding how to formulate an action hypothesis.

Objectives

After reading this material and performing the activities listed, you will be able to acquire knowledge about hypothesis and Action Hypothesis. write action hypothesis in three forms. select an appropriate form of writing an action hypothesis.

Overview

In the last chapter we discussed how a problem could be selected for Action Research. We also saw how we can go about identifying the specific problem, At this stage we need to think and generate a list of alternative causes for the pin-pointed problem. From this list we can choose a cause which we think is the most likely one and start working on it. What we undertake is an intellectual exercise of considering all the causes for the problem and deciding which cause needs to be tackled in solving the problem. What we initially have is a launch. Later we form a hypothesis. Formulating a hypothesis gives precision to our work and helps us to be objective. In this chapter we will know more about the techniques of formulating an Action Hypothesis.

WHAT IS A HYPOTHESIS?

You might be wondering what an action hypothesis is?

Reflection

In our day to day activities we are often faced with problems. We undertake a number of activities to solve them. First we try to identity possible reasons for the problem. Then we think of possible intervention strategies that would solve the problem. We try to find a solution to the problem through logical reasoning. These intelligent and logical “guesses” about possible differences, relationships, causes and solutions are called HYPOTHESES.

The processes, an investigator may use to examine a problem in the field of education are similar to the ones we use to attack our day to day problems.

Look at the following example.

A teacher notices that one of her Students in the IV grade does not show progress in learning “addition of two digit numbers”. Careful observation of this child in the classroom may suggest several possible causes for this problem. This in turn will help the teacher think of suitable remedies.

Based on these possible causes the teacher states HYPOTHESES which are the guessed strategies for solving the problem. Then the teacher designs and carries out a programme aimed at testing each hypothesis and checking the child’s progress.

Without ‘guessing’ the possible causes the teacher can not plan any remedy for the problem.

Definition

A Hypothesis is a hunch or a shrewd guess or a tentative solution or an inference or sub-position to be tested by empirical evidences.

Once the investigator diagnoses the causes of the pinpointed/specific problems, he/she starts thinking about what concrete action, if taken, would bring about the desired change/solution.

Then he/she formulates hypothesis specifying the immediate ‘actions’ that could be taken to solve the problems.

The hypotheses formulated in action research are called ACTION HYPOTHESES

CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD ACTION HYPOTHESIS

A good action hypothesis should be

1. Logically related to the problem
2. Testable in classrooms situations
3. Clearly stated without ambiguity
4. Directly stated in terms of the expected outcome (should not be a generalized statement)
5. Testable within a considerably short time (maximum of three months)

DIFFERENT FORMS FOR STATING ACTION HYPOTHESIS

a) Declarative form: An action hypothesis may be formulated as a statement with a positive relationship between the two factors identified, one being the cause and the other being the effect. This is also called a directional hypothesis.

b) Predictive form: An action hypothesis clearly predicting the expected out come which would emerge after the action plan is implemented. This can be stated using ‘if and then’ statement.

c) Question form: Questions can be raised as action hypotheses as what would be the result of the intended action plan.

d) Null form: A null hypothesis states that no relationship exists between the factors considered in the problems. This form is mostly used when rigorous statistical techniques are to be used.(A thoroughly worked out example for all these forms is given in the next unit.) Thus, an action hypothesis provides clarity and direction to solve a problem. Hence it is considered an important stage in action research.

FORMULATION OF AN ACTION HYPOTHESIS

To form a hypothesis the investigator should

1. Have a thorough knowledge about the problem
2. Be clear about the desired goal (solution)
3. Make a real effort to look at the problem in new ways other than the regular practices (come out form conventional thinking)
4. Give importance for imagination and speculation
5. Think of many alternative solutions.
6. Thoroughly examine the conditions/contexts in which the problem exists and then
7. State the hypothesis

Activity

Give an example for each type of hypothesis Declarative form Predictive form Question form Null form

Illustration of an action hypothesis in four different forms

Here is an illustration of an Action Hypothesis stated in different forms. Carefully observe the wordings, the format, relationship between the factors in each form of the hypothesis. Predictive form Declarative orDirectional Form QuestionForm Null Form If the III grade students receive a “drill work” in the chapter “Addition of whole numbers their progress will be better in Arithmetic. 1. Replace the word “Drill Work” as ‘Supervised study’ in all the forms. 2. Add after, addition of two digit (carrying) A “Drill work” program in the chapter addition of whole numbers for III grade students will cause/influence better progress in Arithmetic, Or Addition (whole number) drill work in and progress in Arithmetic are (positively) related to each other.OrThere is a (positive) relationship between ‘Drill work’ in Addition (whole Nos.) and progress in Arithmetic. To what extent a “Drill work” program in the chapter Addition (Whole numbers) for III grade students will improve their progress in Arithmetic.OrDoes a drill work program in ‘Addition (Whole Nos.) for III graders improve their progress in Arithmetic? If so, to what extent? A “Drill work” program in the chapter. ‘Addition for III grade students and their progress in Arithmetic are not related to each other.OrThere is no significant relationship between the ‘drill work’ program in the chapter addition and progress (whole No.) in Arithmetic among III grade students.

Activity

Eight students in class IV are not able to identify directions on a map. You have realized that inadequate exposure to map reading is the cause for the problem. Now write a hypothesis for finding a solution to this problem in all the four forms. Your course of remedial action should be reflected in the hypothesis.

Activity Sheet on Formulation of action hypothesis

Summary

Hypotheses are intelligent and logical guesses about possible differences, relationships, causes and solutions. Hypotheses could be tested by empirical evidence. An action hypothesis is one that is formed in an action research. A hypothesis could be in declarative forms, predictive form, question form or null form. An action hypothesis is formed after listing all possible causes and choosing the most likely cause among them.