working hypotheses

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "working hypotheses" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in scientific or academic contexts to refer to preliminary ideas or theories that are proposed for further investigation or testing. Example: "In our research, we developed several working hypotheses to explore the relationship between diet and health outcomes."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

gambiae in this geographic region prompts a hypothetical working model of species interactions, whose aim is to provide testable working hypotheses for future quantitative research (Fig. 6).

Evolutionary Applications

Its working hypotheses can't be falsified, because anything that contradicts them must be dismissed.

The New Yorker

"Skeletal reconstructions and restorations," as Switek points out, "are often taken as the last word when they are really working hypotheses, open to change and revision".

The Guardian - Books

She has had more than her share of working hypotheses over the past 20 years: leukemia, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease.

The New York Times - Magazine

The results of the data analysis are in accordance to our working hypotheses.

Applied Ergonomics

The method of multiple working hypotheses produces the most reliable results.

Treatise on Geomorphology

At best they might provide working hypotheses to be tested by future research.

Functional Linguistics

We review the working hypotheses guiding the researchers in the field while pointing out some more recent results that contradict some of the accepted paradigms in the hope of triggering some rethinking of the existing working hypotheses.

Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry

However, these theoretical conclusions have to remain speculative and are meant as working hypotheses for continuation of research.

Ecological Processes

The major philosophical concepts in paleoecology are simplicity, the method of multiple working hypotheses, and methodological uniformitarianism.

Encyclopedia of Ecology

In particular, we can formulate original working hypotheses about the language-induced changes in the ongoing brain dynamics.

Brain and Language

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When presenting "working hypotheses", clearly state that they are preliminary and require further investigation. Avoid presenting them as definitive conclusions.

Common error

Avoid using language that suggests "working hypotheses" are confirmed or definitive. Emphasize their tentative nature to maintain scientific rigor.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "working hypotheses" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object in a sentence. It identifies tentative explanations or assumptions proposed for investigation, as demonstrated by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

88%

News & Media

9%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "working hypotheses" is a commonly used noun phrase, primarily found in formal and scientific contexts, to describe tentative explanations or assumptions used to guide research. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically sound and widely accepted. When using "working hypotheses", it is crucial to emphasize their preliminary nature and avoid presenting them as definitive conclusions. Alternatives such as "preliminary hypotheses" or "tentative explanations" can be used to convey a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preliminary hypotheses

Replaces "working" with "preliminary", emphasizing the initial and tentative nature of the hypotheses.

tentative hypotheses

Substitutes "working" with "tentative", highlighting the provisional and unconfirmed status of the hypotheses.

initial assumptions

Replaces "hypotheses" with "assumptions", focusing on the foundational beliefs upon which further investigation is based.

starting assumptions

Similar to "initial assumptions", emphasizing the role of these hypotheses as a point of departure.

testable propositions

Shifts the focus to the testable nature of the hypotheses, highlighting their role in empirical investigation.

provisional explanations

Replaces "hypotheses" with "explanations", emphasizing the explanatory power of these tentative ideas.

undeveloped theories

Highlights that these are not fully formed theories but rather ideas that are still in development.

exploratory models

Emphasizes the use of these hypotheses as models for exploring a phenomenon.

pilot hypotheses

Pilot implies these hypotheses will be used in an initial study.

trial assumptions

Trial assumptions suggests that these assumptions are tentative and experimental in nature.

FAQs

How are "working hypotheses" used in research?

"Working hypotheses" are preliminary explanations proposed to guide research and experimentation. They serve as a starting point for investigation and are subject to revision based on new evidence.

What is the difference between "working hypotheses" and established theories?

"Working hypotheses" are tentative and require further testing, while established theories are supported by a substantial body of evidence. "Established theories" have undergone rigorous scrutiny and are widely accepted within the scientific community.

What are some alternatives to "working hypotheses"?

Alternatives include "preliminary hypotheses", "tentative explanations", or "initial assumptions", depending on the specific context.

How do I formulate "working hypotheses"?

Formulate "working hypotheses" based on existing knowledge, observations, and preliminary data. They should be specific, testable, and relevant to the research question.