An assumption is a belief, thing, or statement that is taken as true by the researcher. It is not tested in research because these statements are the cornerstone of whole research. These are universally accepted and sufficiently well demonstrated that the researcher can build on them.
They are a fundamental part of the human experience. People make them in their everyday decisions and experiences. If we do not consider these assumptions, our research will not proceed any further.
Our inferences or conclusions are often based on them, and sometimes we do not think about it critically. Nevertheless, a critical thinker pays close attention to these assumptions, recognizing that they can be flawed or misinformed. Merely presuming something’s validity doesn’t guarantee its accuracy. Just because we assume something is true doesn’t mean it is.
In research, we must think carefully about them when finding and analyzing information, but we also must think carefully about the assumptions of others. When looking at a website or a scholarly article, we should always consider the author’s assumptions, whether the author has taken them logically.
However, when one person believes one thing to be true, it may be somewhat different from what another person believes to be true. Although the well-established assumptions are firmly rooted in prior research, most of us tend to accept those assumptions that square with our own personal or professional views of the world without questioning the extent to which they have been or are capable of being verified. In addition, assumptions are not always easy to state. Seasoned researchers may not consider it seemly to admit that fact, but beginning researchers are quick to acknowledge the difficulty and to ask where the dividing line falls between assumptions and hypotheses. For example, the statement that memory loss occurs with aging may be accepted as an assumption by some but as a hypothesis for investigation by others.
Assumptions are things that are accepted as true; any scholar reading our paper will assume that certain aspects of our study are true, like population, statistical test, research design, or other delimitations. For example, if I tell my friend that the jungle is my favorite place, he will assume that I have never encountered a lion in the jungle. It’s assumed that I go there for walks and recreation. Because most assumptions are not discussed in text, assumptions that are discussed in text are discussed in the context of the limitations of our study, which is typically in the discussion section.
This is important, because both assumptions and limitations affect the inferences we can draw from your study. One prevalent assumption often made in survey research involves expecting honesty and truthful answers. However, for certain sensitive questions this assumption may be more difficult to accept, in this case it would be described as a limitation of the study.
For example, asking people to report their criminal or sexual behavior in a survey may not be as reliable as asking people to report their eating habits. It is important to remember that our limitations and assumptions should not contradict one another. For instance, if we state that generalizability is a limitation of our study given that our sample was limited to one city in Pakistan, then we should not claim generalizability to Pakistan population as an assumption of our study.
In quantitative research designs, statistical models come with accompanying assumptions, which can vary in their stringency. These assumptions typically pertain to data characteristics, including distributions, correlations, and variable types. Violating these assumptions can lead to drastically invalid results, though this often depends on sample size and other considerations.
TYPES OF ASSUMPTIONS
1. UniversalÂ
These assumptions are believed to be universally accepted and considered as true by large part of society. To test these assumptions is a very difficult task.
For example: There is a super natural force which holds this whole universe.
2. Based On Theories
If a researcher is working on a theory, the assumptions used in that theory will also be the assumptions of this study.
For example: Research on atomic theory will take the assumptions of development of atomic theory.
3. Common Sense Assumptions
Some of the common sense assumptions are taken to conduct a research.
For example: Heart attack is more common in urban areas as compared to rural areas.
4. WarrantedÂ
This assumption is supported by certain evidence.
For example: Regular walk can reduce obesity.
5. UnwarrantedÂ
This assumption is not supported by evidences.
For example: God exists everywhere in this universe.
Examples in Research
- Sample is a true representative of population.
- It is a true experimental design.
- In comparison of two teaching methods, the behavior of students will be ideal and results are generalizable.
- We will receive true responses from respondents.
- During the experiment in laboratory, no hidden factors will affect the results of experiment.
- The equipment is functioning well and there is no error in equipment.
IDENTIFYING ASSUMPTION
When we make incorrect or unreasonable assumption during research, we will get false conclusions. So we should think that what assumption should be a part of thesis and what should not be. A good assumption is that which can be verified or justified. A bad one on the other hand cannot be verified or justified. The researcher must explain and give examples that the assumption made is true. For example, if the researcher is making an assumption that respondents will give honest responses to your questions, he or she must explain the data collection process and how will preserve anonymity and confidentiality to maximize the truthfulness.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HYPOTHESIS AND ASSUMPTION
A hypothesis is an intelligent guess which establishes relationship between variables. On the other hand, assumption is statement or belief which is taken as true without any justification. Hypothesis is tested explicitly, and assumption is tested implicitly. Hypothesis passes through the stages of verification. Assumption specifies the existence of relationship between variables while hypothesis establishes this relationship.
Hypotheses and assumption are so close to each other that sometime they create confusion. Assumption is assumed true statement without having any firm explanation behind it. Hypothesis is an assumption which is taken to be true unless proved otherwise.
