QR Fall 2002

Case 3, Homework 3

Hypotheses are specific testable propositions about the relationship between two variables. The essence of a research hypothesis is that it contains within itself clear grounds on which the researcher will accept that she has been proved wrong!

1. For next class and lab, choose two variables from the case variable list (http://www.mtholyoke.edu/courses/etownsle/qr/codebookqrc3.htm) and, in one sentence, formally state (a) a research hypothesis about the relationship you expect to find between them, and (b) the null hypothesis.

Research Hypothesis:

Null hypothesis:

HINT 1: Be sure to say what your variables are and if you expect to discover a positive or negative relationship.

HINT 2: Remember your unit of analysis is the census tract, so the hypothesis is likely to be about tracts.

HINT 3: Some possible relationships might be between the ethnic and racial composition of tracts on the one hand and the wealth, median income, percent renters, median rent, population density, percent in poverty etc. of a tract, on the other.

2. In a few sentences, describe the reasoning/logic behind your research hypothesis. Feel free to use maps, numbers, and other findings from previous classes and labs to back up your reasoning. Try to be as clear as possible.