A research hypothesis is a statement of expectation or prediction that will be tested by
research.
Before formulating your research hypothesis, read about the topic of interest to you. From
your reading, which may include articles, books and/or cases, you should gain sufficient
information about your topic that will enable you to narrow or limit it and express it as a
research question. The research question flows from the topic that you are considering. The
research question, when stated as one sentence, is your Research Hypothesis.
In some disciplines, the hypothesis is called a “thesis statement.”Other words for “hypothesized”
are “posited,” “theorized” or “proposed”. Remember, your hypothesis must REQUIRE two or
more disciplines, one of which is law. This is essential, since your paper is interdisciplinary and
a demonstration of the interdisciplinary process.
In your hypothesis, you are predicting the relationship between variables. Through the
disciplinary insights gained in the research process throughout the year, you “prove” your
hypothesis. This is a process of discovery to create greater understandings or conclusions. It is
not a strict proof as in logic or mathematics.
Following are some hints for the formulation of your hypothesis:
• 1. Be sure to read on the topic to familiarize yourself with it before making a final
decision. You need to make certain that the topic is researchable in an interdisciplinary
sense, meaning that there is sufficient published material on the topic in the legal
literature and in the literature of a second or possibly a third discipline to write a 35-page
paper.
• 2. As noted, a research hypothesis is more than just a topic. It has two elements
(variables) that are in relation to each other. Remember that, within the word
“hypothesis” is the word “thesis.” Your hypothesis is what you propose to “prove” by
your research. As a result of your research, you will arrive at a conclusion, a theory, or
understanding that will be useful or applicable beyond the research itself.
• 3. Avoid judgmental words in your hypothesis. Value judgments are subjective and are
not appropriate for a hypothesis. You should strive to be objective. Therefore the use of
personal opinion is to be avoided.
• 4. Your hypothesis must involve an issue or question that cannot be answered exclusively
by the discipline of law. You should try to limit your inquiry to the literatures of 2 or 3
disciplines. It is best to choose a hypothesis where you already have some level of
familiarity with the disciplines that are most relevant to the topic.
• 5. Be sure that each term in your hypothesis is clearly understood and defined; do not
deal in generalities or assume that the reader knows the meaning of a technical term.
• 6. Specify, if appropriate, whether you will be dealing with state or federal law or both on
a comparative basis if appropriate.
•
7. Know that your hypothesis may change over time as your research progresses.
You must obtain the professor’s approval of your hypothesis, as well as any modifications to
your hypothesis, before proceeding with any work on the topic.
Your will be expressing your hypothesis in 3 ways:
• As a one-sentence hypothesis
• As a research question
• As a title for your paper
Your hypothesis will become part of your research proposal.