A hypothesis is primarily tested in which type of research strategy?

A hypothesis is primarily tested in quantitative research strategies because this type of research involves the systematic collection and analysis of numerical data to determine relationships, effects, or differences among variables. In quantitative research, researchers formulate a hypothesis based on theoretical frameworks or previous findings and then use statistical methods to test this hypothesis. This often involves controlled experiments, surveys, or other methodologies that yield measurable data.

Quantitative research typically seeks to establish patterns, make predictions, or infer causality, which all rely on hypothesis testing. This can include experiments where the investigator manipulates variables to observe their effects on an outcome measure, allowing for a clear assessment of cause-and-effect relationships.

In contrast, qualitative research is oriented towards exploring and understanding phenomena through in-depth, non-numerical data, such as interviews or observations, and does not focus primarily on hypothesis testing. Mixed methods combine both qualitative and quantitative approaches but while they may incorporate hypothesis testing, the main emphasis is often broader in scope than merely testing a specific hypothesis. Descriptive research focuses on providing a detailed account of characteristics or phenomena without testing relationships or hypotheses, making it fundamentally different from hypothesis-driven research.