What is the Usefulness of the Hypotheses?
to. In the first place, and as already said, they are the flows of an investigation. Formulating them helps us to know what we are trying to look for, to prove. They provide order and logic to the study.
b. Second, they have a descriptive and explanatory function, as the case may be, | Each time a hypothesis receives empirical evidence in its favor or against it, it tells us something about the phenomenon to which it is associated or refers.
c. The third function is to test theories, if evidence is provided in favor of one.
d. A fourth function is to suggest theories (Black and Champion, 1976). Some hypotheses are not associated with any theory; but it can happen that as a result of the test of a hypothesis, a theory or the bases for it can be built.