How to Invent an Argument by Testing a Hypothesis

What you need to DoYour assignment is to come up with a hypothesis. Hypothesis can either be scientific or non-scientific. You will test that hypothesis by trying to disprove it. There are multiple ways to test your hypothesis ( i.e. case study,

interviews, reasoning, surveys if applicable.)

The Method You Will ChooseHow are you going to be able to prove or

disprove your hypothesis? Case Study: Is a research methodology

common in social science. It is based on an in-depth investigation of a single individual, group, or event to explore causation in order to find underlying principles.

Interview: Conduct an interview with a test subject. Pick someone that flirts day to day with your hypothesis subject.

Methods Continued… Survey: You have the option of incorporating

a survey in order to help prove your hypothesis. Be careful with this method though. Ask yourself if you have a large enough group of individuals being surveyed in order to make an effective conclusion.

Reasoning: This method is a more philosophical way of conducting your hypothesis.

Example: Apples come from trees. I ate a fruit that did not come from a tree. Therefore it cannot be an apple.

Target AudienceWho are what are you going to have to

observe in order to come to an accurate conclusion.

Example: If you are trying to prove or disprove a hypothesis about college students you would not want to involve your hypothesis with someone that has never attended a university.

Example # 2: If you are testing a hypothesis on the game The Sims it would not make sense to test a subject that only plays World of Warcraft.

Example to go off Of

FacebookIn my hypothesis I attempted to prove that Facebook

destroys personal communication and face to face interaction among our community.

I brought two theorists into the hypothesis to help my audience understand what their thought process would be on Facebook.

Howard Rheingold: In favor of the technological revolution.

Neil Postman: Would view Facebook as a taxonomy and destructive piece of technology.

I incorporated these two theorists into my hypothesis to help my audience have an idea where they would stand on the tests involved.

The Steps that I TookStep 1: Decide what I wanted to analyze

within Facebook Step 2: Took five different areas of Facebook

and used them to attempt to disprove my hypothesis. (Ex: Facebook fan pages, Profiles, Online events, Examples of how Facebook does better connect our community.

Step 3: Took an actual Facebook user and interviewed him to see his opinion on Facebook’s effects on society.

Step 4: Conclusion

ConclusionWhen you come to your conclusion your hypothesis will not

always just be plain right or plain wrong. Some hypothesis’ may just need to be adjusted a bit in order

to fit.

Your AssignmentYour have a choice between testing two

economic theories. Fiscal Policy: In economics, fiscal policy

is the use of government expenditure and revenue collection to influence the economy.

Monetary Policy: The regulation of the money supply and interest rates by a central bank, such as the Federal Reserve Board in the U.S., in order to control inflation and stabilize currency.

Testing your HypothesisYou will test either one of these economic theories

by trying to disprove the theories made by famous economists.

Fiscal Policy: John Maynard KeynesMonetary Policy: Milton Friedman You will read articles on both economists and

incorporate them into testing your hypothesis. Test your hypothesis through the you of economic

history (EX: The Great Depression/Reagonomics). Create a way to test you method on an individual

level.

John Maynard KeynesRead the short biography below to learn

about Keynes’ economic ideologies. http://homepage.newschool.edu/het//profiles/

keynes.htm.

Milton FriedmanBelow is an article on Milton Friedman and

his economic theories. http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/economics/

laureates/1976/friedman-autobio.html.

GradesYour assignment will be based off of the

following: Hypothesis Ability to effectively incorporate Keynes and

Friedman into your assignment Step by step process Analysis Conclusion