Question

why do we need to test hypotheses in health-related or epidemiological research?

Answer 1

Hypothesis can be defined as a supposition or explanation which is made on the basis of limited evidence found at the start of investigation. Testing a hypothesis becomes highly important in health, disease, epidemiological researches.

The strength of evidence from the sample is evaluated by hypothesis testing. This testing method provide a framework to make the parameters or determinations which are related to the population,. The reliability with which one can extrapolate the observed findings in a sample to the larger population is found out through hypothesis testing.

In hypothesis testing, an investigator forms a specific hypothesis, then data is evaluated from the sample, and used to decide whether the specific hypothesis is supported.

In health-related or epidemiological research which comprises of scientific hypothesis , they can become a theory or a law of nature later, if proven by repeatable experiments.

Hypothesis comprises of a null and alternate hypothesis. Null hypothesis detects no difference between the two sets of data. In a medical trial, ‘there is no difference in improvement between patients receiving the drug and one not receiving ‘ can be the null hypothesis. In this way it can be found out whether a drug actually have any effect on the population or is not effective. The errors commited in testing the hypothesis are equally risky as many lives will be at stake in this case.