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HypothesesAs we indicated at an earlier stage, hypotheses may be regarded as the guidingelements in research. By means of an hypothesis the researcher indicates whathe or she is aiming at. In the case of a theoretically oriented investigation, thehypothesis is likely to be presented in the form of a central thesis — but it doesnot loose its character of being a brief summary of what the researcher is tryingto prove. In figure 7.3 we have summarized some of the most noticeabledifferences in the utilization of hypotheses between qualitatively andquantitatively oriented researchers.FIGURE 7.3QUALITATIVEFrequently undeclared or merelystated in the form of a generalresearch goal.HYPOTHESESQUANTITATIVEStated explicitly, at least in theform of a research question.Emerging from the development ofthe investigation.Can often not be rejected.Ought to be formulated beforehand.Can be rejected.Free download from www.hsrcpress.ac.zaAs indicated in figure 7.3, qualitative researchers are far more concerned withensuring that the hypotheses have been formulated before the investigation isembarked upon. They will also ensure that the hypotheses are formulated insuch a manner that they may be rejected or falsified, and, to a large extent, thewhole study revolves around the hypotheses. Researchers in the qualitativemould, on the other hand, tend to be far more vague about what their intentionsare and, as a rule, they will provide no more than a general research aim intheir introductions. This aim is usually not formulated in such a manner that itis falsifiable. In other cases, the central thesis or hypothesis tends gradually toemerge and it can frequently be described as the result of the investigation.The matter of the presence or absence of an hypothesis or central thesis is arather thorny issue. One would, for example, be able to say that aninvestigation which has as its aim ...to present an overview of... does not reallyrequire any further explicit hypotheses. One should, however, bear in mind thatit hardly ever occurs that such a comprehensive overview of whateverphenomenon is presented that the researcher cannot be accused of having beenselective. In some way or another, the researcher does make choices and onecould infer from this that there must be some conjecture or hypothesis that theresearcher was trying to confirm. Another difficult issue related to the absenceof hypotheses or central theses is associated with ethical issues.161