preliminary assumptions

USAGE SUMMARY

"preliminary assumptions" is a correct and usable term in written English.
It is usually used to refer to ideas which are assumed to be true prior to collecting and assessing evidence, and can often be used in the context of a research project to suggest a theory which the research may, or may not, prove to be true. For example: "The study was based on the preliminary assumption that decreasing levels of rainfall would lead to reduced crop yields."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

It ensures structural and parametric identification without preliminary assumptions about the working model.

Electrochimica Acta

The paper takes its cue from the Porter hypothesis to make some broad preliminary assumptions to inform the research design.

Journal of Cleaner Production

In this section, we give some basic notations, the preliminary assumptions throughout this paper, as well as some useful results.

Advances in Difference Equations

Preliminary assumptions that are considered in the development of the models in this work are discussed in "Preliminaries to molecular propagation model".

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Given certain preliminary assumptions, this indicated to EPA that groundwater concentrations would need to be less than 1 part per billion--which would mean billions of dollars to clean up contamination.

Science Magazine

Against the background of these preliminary assumptions, I will try to explain that the topic of 'weak signals' is a consequence of structural changes in modern society, and that these changes have drawn our attention on complex cognitive systems as a type of anticipatory systems.

European Journal of Futures Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

All preliminary assumption checks were completed using the car package in R (Fox & Weisberg [2011]).

Large-scale Assessments in Education

Preliminary assumption testing was conducted to check normality and homogeneity of variance with no serious violations noted.

Journal of Big Data

The behavioral ecologists are making the preliminary assumption that a trait is an adaptation in order to test other hypotheses about it they "pretend as if" the trait were an adaptation, and use that assumption to detect deviations from optimality that might reveal interesting tradeoffs and constraints the nature of the deviation can suggest what might be missing from the model.

SEP

In these tests, the preliminary assumption was the existence of homogeneity of variance and not normal distribution [39].

Plosone

Preliminary assumption testing was conducted before multivariate analyses to check for normality, linearity, univariate and multivariate outliers, and for homogeneity of variance matrices, and no serious violations were noted.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Clearly state your "preliminary assumptions" at the beginning of your research or analysis. This sets the context and helps readers understand the foundation of your work.

Common error

Avoid treating "preliminary assumptions" as facts. Always aim to test and validate them throughout your work to ensure accuracy and robustness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "preliminary assumptions" functions as a noun phrase. It typically identifies the initial, unproven ideas that form the basis for further investigation or analysis. According to Ludwig, it's a correct and usable term, suggesting its grammatical soundness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

12%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "preliminary assumptions" correctly identifies the initial, often untested, beliefs that underpin a study or analysis. As Ludwig confirms, it's grammatically sound and frequently used in scientific and academic contexts. While not overly common, its clear function in setting the stage for further investigation makes it a valuable tool in formal writing. Remember to clearly state and, ideally, validate these assumptions as your work progresses. While alternatives exist, such as "initial hypotheses" or "basic suppositions", the key is to ensure clarity and transparency in outlining the foundations of your reasoning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initial hypotheses

Focuses on the starting point of an investigation, specifically in the context of testable statements.

working hypotheses

Highlights the provisional nature of the assumptions, emphasizing their use as a basis for ongoing work.

starting premises

Emphasizes the foundational aspect of the assumptions, as a basis for reasoning or argument.

basic suppositions

Underlines the fundamental and often unexamined nature of the assumptions.

underlying presumptions

Highlights the hidden or less obvious nature of the assumptions, suggesting they form a base upon which other ideas are built.

initial conjectures

Stresses the speculative nature of the assumptions, implying they are based on incomplete evidence.

tentative postulates

Similar to "initial conjectures", but emphasizes the proposed or asserted nature of the assumptions.

provisional assessments

Highlights that the assumptions are subject to change and not definitive.

groundwork theories

Focuses on the function of setting the stage or foundation for future research or theories.

early stage assumptions

Emphasizes that these are the assumptions that are in place in the early part of the process.

FAQs

How can I effectively state "preliminary assumptions" in a research paper?

Begin by clearly outlining the background and rationale for each assumption. Use phrases like "It is assumed that..." or "For the purpose of this study, we assume..." to signal that these are "working hypotheses" subject to validation.

What's the difference between "preliminary assumptions" and "final conclusions"?

"Preliminary assumptions" are the starting points of an investigation, guiding the initial stages of research. In contrast, "final conclusions" are the outcomes derived from analyzing data and testing those initial assumptions.

When should I revise my "preliminary assumptions"?

You should revise your "preliminary assumptions" whenever new evidence contradicts them or when they no longer align with your findings. This iterative process ensures your research remains grounded and relevant, eventually leading to a more robust set of "validated assumptions".

What are some alternatives to "preliminary assumptions" in academic writing?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "initial hypotheses", "basic suppositions", or "underlying presumptions". The choice depends on the nuance you want to convey regarding the foundational ideas of your work.