Question

Which statement about hypotheses is not true?

• A. A hypothesis is an unproven statement or proposition about a factor or phenomenon that is of interest to the researcher.
• B. Hypotheses are declarative and can be tested empirically.
• C. It is possible to formulate hypotheses in all situations.
• D. An important role of a hypothesis is to suggest variables to be included in the research design.

Hint:

Not all research starts with a hypothesis — in exploratory or qualitative studies, you often begin with questions, not predictions.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Identify true characteristics of hypotheses.
- (a) Correct: Hypothesis = tentative proposition, subject to empirical test.
- (b) Correct: Always stated in declarative form, testable via observation/experiment.
- (d) Correct: Hypotheses guide variable selection, operationalisation, and measurement.
Step 2: Spot the incorrect one.
- (c) Wrong because in exploratory research or situations with very little prior knowledge, you may not have enough basis to formulate a hypothesis — you may just explore phenomena.
\[ \boxed{(c)} \]