The role of hypotheses in biomechanical research
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Science in Context
Publication Date
6-1-2012
Volume
25
Issue
2
First Page
247
Last Page
262
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Abstract
This paper investigates whether there is a discrepancy between stated and actual aims in biomechanical research, particularly with respect to hypothesis testing. We present an analysis of one hundred papers recently published in The Journal of Experimental Biology and Journal of Biomechanics, and examine the prevalence of papers which (a) have hypothesis testing as a stated aim, (b) contain hypothesis testing claims that appear to be purely presentational (i.e. which seem not to have influenced the actual study), and (c) have exploration as a stated aim. We found that whereas no papers had exploration as a stated aim, 58 per cent of papers had hypothesis testing as a stated aim. We had strong suspicions, at the bare minimum, that presentational hypotheses were present in 31 per cent of the papers in this latter group.
DOI
10.1017/S0269889712000051
Print ISSN
02698897
E-ISSN
14740664
Publisher Statement
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012
Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Rowbottom, D. P. & Alexander, R. M. (2012). The role of hypotheses in biomechanical research. Science in Context, 25(2), 247-262. doi: 10.1017/S0269889712000051