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CHAPTER 1: Introduction 21STRETCHING EXERCISEIn this exercise, form hypotheses using an item from each column. Link together an event or behaviorfrom the first column with an outcome from the second column, and then a possible explanation fromthe third column. A sample hypothesis is illustrated.Event or Behavior Outcome Explanation1 exposure to thin body images 1 increased helping 1 reinterpretation of events2 terrorism attack on 9/11/2001 2 health benefits 2 increased empathy3 writing about emotional events 3 increased traffic fatalities 3 comparison of self to ideal4 mimicking behavior and posture 4 body dissatisfaction 4 fear of air travelSample Hypothesis: Writing about emotional events causes health benefits, possibly due to a reinterpretationof events that occurs with writing. [Pennebaker & Francis, 1996]Key ConceptThe next decision is a bit harder. As researchers get started, they seek toidentify their research hypothesis. A hypothesis (plural: hypotheses) is a tentativeexplanation for a phenomenon. Often a hypothesis is stated in the form ofa prediction for some outcome, along with an explanation for the prediction.We proposed a research hypothesis earlier when we suggested that the effects(e.g., increased aggression) of violent media may be stronger for video gamesthan for passive television viewing because players are actively engaged inthe aggressive actions, thus increasing their aggressive tendencies. (An alternativehypothesis might suggest that the effects of video games might be lessbecause game players have the opportunity to release the aggressive impulsesthat passive television viewers do not.)McGuire (1997) identified 49 simple rules (“heuristics”) for generating a hypothesisto be tested scientifically. We cannot review all 49 suggestions here,but we can give you some insight into McGuire’s thinking by listing some ofthese heuristics. He suggests, for example, that we might generate a hypothesisfor a research study by—thinking about deviations (oddities, exceptions) from a general trendor principle;—imagining how we would behave in a task or if faced with a specificproblem;—considering similar problems whose solution is known;—making sustained, deliberate observations of a person or phenomenon(e.g., performing a “case study”);—generating counterexamples for an obvious conclusion about behavior;—borrowing ideas or theories from other disciplines.Of course, identifying a research question and hypothesis doesn’t necessarilytell you how to do the research. What is it exactly that you want to know? Answeringthis question will mean that you must make other decisions that we willaddress throughout this text. As a researcher, you will ask yourself questions suchas “Should I do a qualitative or quantitative research study? What is the nature of