ABSTRACT
A research hypothesis is a prediction of the outcome of a study. The prediction may be based on an educated guess or a formal theory. Example 1 is a hypothesis for a nonexperimental study. EXAMPLE 1 It is hypothesized that first-grade girls have better reading comprehension than first-grade boys. In Example 1, the researcher is predicting that he
or she will find higher reading comprehension among girls than boys. To test the prediction, a nonexperimental study would be appropriate because nothing in the hypothesis suggests that treatments will be given.
