Hypothesis Testing

Hypothesis testing concerns the way we use evidence to examine the validity of ideas about the way the world around us works. If such ideas, or theories, have logical consequences, then we can test these hypotheses by collecting data that would show them to be false, if indeed we had been mistaken in our beliefs. A variety of methods are available to researchers in human geography to test hypotheses. While quantitative, statistical techniques are widely used, it is clear that many of the same methodological and philosophical issues that underline them are also relevant to the use of more qualitative techniques in human geography. Thinking about the way we test hypotheses in human geography can help the researchers to understand the context of their work, and the assumptions made about the nature of geographical knowledge and enquiry.