We have heard of many hypotheses which have led to great inventions in science. Assumptions that are made on the basis of some evidence are known as hypotheses. In this article, let us learn in detail about the hypothesis and the type of hypothesis with examples.
A hypothesis is an assumption that is made based on some evidence. This is the initial point of any investigation that translates the research questions into predictions. It includes components like variables, population and the relation between the variables. A research hypothesis is a hypothesis that is used to test the relationship between two or more variables.
Following are the characteristics of the hypothesis:
Following are the sources of hypothesis:
There are six forms of hypothesis and they are:
It shows a relationship between one dependent variable and a single independent variable. For example – If you eat more vegetables, you will lose weight faster. Here, eating more vegetables is an independent variable, while losing weight is the dependent variable.
It shows the relationship between two or more dependent variables and two or more independent variables. Eating more vegetables and fruits leads to weight loss, glowing skin, and reduces the risk of many diseases such as heart disease.
It shows how a researcher is intellectual and committed to a particular outcome. The relationship between the variables can also predict its nature. For example- children aged four years eating proper food over a five-year period are having higher IQ levels than children not having a proper meal. This shows the effect and direction of the effect.
It is used when there is no theory involved. It is a statement that a relationship exists between two variables, without predicting the exact nature (direction) of the relationship.
It provides a statement which is contrary to the hypothesis. It’s a negative statement, and there is no relationship between independent and dependent variables. The symbol is denoted by “H O ”.
Associative hypothesis occurs when there is a change in one variable resulting in a change in the other variable. Whereas, the causal hypothesis proposes a cause and effect interaction between two or more variables.
Following are the examples of hypotheses based on their types:
Following are the functions performed by the hypothesis:
Researchers use hypotheses to put down their thoughts directing how the experiment would take place. Following are the steps that are involved in the scientific method:
What is hypothesis.
A hypothesis is an assumption made based on some evidence.
What are the types of hypothesis.
Types of hypothesis are:
Define complex hypothesis..
A complex hypothesis shows the relationship between two or more dependent variables and two or more independent variables.
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Every great scientific journey begins with a well-framed hypothesis. This predictive statement serves as the backbone of a study, guiding research thesis statement with precision and purpose. Whether you’re a budding researcher or a seasoned scientist, crafting a compelling hypothesis is paramount. This guide offers a curated selection of exemplary hypothesis statements, invaluable writing insights, and best practices to ensure your research sets sail on the right course. Dive in to fortify your foundational understanding.
A good hypothesis statement is a clear, concise, testable, and falsifiable proposition that predicts a particular outcome or relationship between variables based on prior knowledge, observation, or reasoning. It serves as the foundation for the research, guiding the direction and focus of the study.
Example: “Increased exposure to sunlight (independent variable) will lead to an elevation in Vitamin D levels (dependent variable) in adults.”
This simple hypothesis is strong because it’s specific, suggesting a clear relationship between the two variables. It’s also testable, as one can measure Vitamin D levels in adults with varying exposure to sunlight, and it’s falsifiable, as findings might reveal no significant change in Vitamin D levels despite changes in sunlight exposure.
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Crafting an impeccable thesis statement is the bedrock of any research. It’s a concise Thesis statement summary of your main point or claim. Here, we present a variety of thesis statement examples across disciplines to inspire and guide your own writing endeavors.
A well-structured hypothesis for research statement sets a clear path for investigation. It should be concise, specific, and testable based on available resources.
Crafting a solid hypothesis can make a science fair project stand out. It should be based on observable phenomena and be measurable.
Hypotheses in psychology delve into human behavior, emotions, and cognition, aiming to predict outcomes based on conditions or stimuli.
Biology hypothesis aim to predict the relationships between living organisms and their interactions with the environment.
Hypotheses in product management help in predicting user behavior and guiding product enhancements.
n digital marketing, a hypothesis can guide strategies by predicting how certain changes might influence online behavior.
For a t estable hypothesis , it must present a potential scenario that can be proven right or wrong through experimentation or observational studies.
A null hypothesis assumes no relationship or effect between variables and serves as a foundation to be tested against an alternative hypothesis.
An effective hypothesis not only offers a testable proposition but also clarifies the scope and direction of the research, making the study’s intent transparent.
Hypotheses and questions both originate from scientific curiosity. However, they serve distinct roles in research. A research question and hypothesis pinpoints what the researcher is trying to discover or understand. In contrast, a hypothesis is a formulated answer to that question based on prior knowledge, observations, or educated assumptions. It’s an informed prediction that is made to be tested. For example, upon asking “Does music affect concentration?”, a researcher might hypothesize, “Listening to classical music will improve concentration levels during tasks.” It’s essential to note that the question initiates the inquiry, while the hypothesis provides direction to the research.
A strong hypothesis is not merely a guess. It’s constructed with thought, precision, and a foundation in existing knowledge:
Good Hypothesis: “Eating dark chocolate in moderate amounts can improve mood in adults.” Why it’s good: The hypothesis provides specificity about the type of chocolate, quantity, the target group, and the outcome.
Bad Hypothesis: “Chocolate might change feelings.” Why it’s bad: This hypothesis is overly broad, lacking specifics on the type of chocolate, the demographic, or the nature of the change in feelings.
Beyond being testable, a viable hypothesis should be:
For a hypothesis to be effective:
Creating a hypothesis involves more than just making an educated guess:
Crafting a hypothesis is both an art and science:
In essence, a hypothesis is a guiding star in the vast sky of research. It provides direction, clarity, and purpose to your investigations, ensuring your efforts are targeted and meaningful.
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Click here if you have ever found yourself in the position of having to wrestle with the development of a hypothesis for your research paper. As an expert writer, I have seen that this is where most students begin to sweat. It is a potpourri of theory and practice, hence rather intimidating. But not to worry because I have got your back. This guide is a pool of tips and tricks for writing a hypothesis to set the stage for compelling research.
A hypothesis is a tentative statement, usually in the form of an educated guess, that provides a probable explanation for something either a phenomenon or a relationship between variables. This will, therefore, form a basis for conducting experiments and research studies, hence laying down the course of your investigation and mainly laying the ground for your conclusion.
A good hypothesis should be:
Specific and clear
Testable and falsifiable
Based upon existing knowledge
Logically consistent
There are different kinds of hypotheses used in research, all of which serve different purposes depending on the nature of the study. Here are eight common types:
1. The null hypothesis (H0): asserts that there is no effect or relationship between variables. This forms a baseline for comparison. Example: "There is no difference in test scores for students who study music and for those who do not."
2. Alternative Hypothesis (H1): The hypothesis that postulates some effect or relationship between variables; it is, therefore, the opposite of the null hypothesis. For instance, "Students who study with music have different test scores than those who study in silence."
3. Simple Hypothesis: The hypothesis that states a relationship between two variables: one independent and one dependent. For example, "More sunlight increases plant growth."
4. Complex Hypothesis: This hypothesis involves the relationship of more than one variable. For example, "More sunlight and water increase plant growth."
5. Directional Hypothesis: The hypothesis which specifies the direction of the effect between variables. For instance, "Students who study with music will have higher test scores than students who study in silence."
6. Non-Directional Hypothesis: This is a hypothesis used where the relationship is indicated, but the direction is not specified. For example, "There is a difference in test scores between students who study with music and those who study in silence."
7. Associative Hypothesis: This hypothesis merely states that the change in one variable is associated with a change in another. It does not indicate cause and effect. For example: "There is a relationship between study habits and academic performance."
8. Causal Hypothesis: This hypothesis states that one variable causes a change in another. For example: "Increased study time results in higher test scores."
Understanding such types of hypotheses will help in the selection of the correct hypothesis for your research and in making your analysis clear and effective.
An excellent hypothesis provides a backbone to any scientific research. Leave some help behind in writing one? Follow this easy guide:
Step 1: Ask a Question
First, you must understand what your research question is. Suppose you want to carry out an experiment on plant growth. Your question can be, "How does sunlight affect plant growth?"
Use WPS AI to help when you get stuck. Feed it a topic, and it will come up with related questions to ask.
Step 2: Do Preliminary Research
Do some research to see what's already known about your topic. That way, you can build upon existing knowledge.
Research information in journals, books and credible websites. Then summarize what you read. This will help you formulate your hypothesis.
Step 3: Define Variables
Identify your variables:
Independent Variable: What you manipulate. For example, the amount of sun.
Dependent Variable: What you measure. For example, plant growth rate.
Clearly defining these makes your hypothesis specific and testable.
Step 4: State Your Hypothesis
State your question in the form of a hypothesis. Here are some examples:
If then: "If plants receive more sunlight, then they will grow faster."
Comparative statements: "Plants receiving more sunlight grow faster than plants receiving less."
Correlation statements: "There is positive correlation between sunlight and plant growth." This kind of pattern makes your hypothesis easy to test.
Step 5: Refine Your Hypothesis
Revise your hypothesis to be clear and specific, and elicit feedback to improve it.
You will also need a null hypothesis, which says that there is no effect or relationship between variables. An example would be, "Sunlight has no effect on the growth of plants."
With these steps, you are now bound to come up with a testable hypothesis. WPS AI can help you in this process more efficiently.
A good hypothesis is seen as the backbone of doing effective research. Following are some key characteristics that define a good hypothesis:
A good hypothesis has to be testable either by experimentation or observation. The hypothesis should clearly predict what can be measured or observed. For example, "If it receives more sunlight, the plant will grow taller" is a testable hypothesis since it states what can be measured.
Falsifiable
A hypothesis has to be falsifiable: it should be able to prove it wrong. This feature is important because it accommodates testing in science. For example, the statement "All swans are white" is falsifiable since it just takes one black swan to disprove the claim.
A good hypothesis should be grounded in current knowledge and should be properly reasoned. It should be broad or reasonable within existing knowledge. For example, "Increasing the amount of sunlight will boost plant growth" makes sense, in that it tallies with generally known facts about photosynthesis.
Specific and Clear
What is needed is clarity and specificity. A hypothesis has to be brief, yet free from ambiguity. For instance, "Increased sunlight leads to taller plants" is clear and specific whereas "Sunlight affects plants" is too vague.
Built upon Prior Knowledge
A good hypothesis is informed by prior research and existing theories. The available knowledge enlightens it to build on what is known to find new relationships or effects. For example, "Given photosynthesis requires sunlight, increasing sunlight will enhance plant growth" is informed by available scientific understanding.
Ethical Considerations
Finally, a good hypothesis needs to consider the ethics involved. The research should not bring damage to participants or the environment. For instance, "How the new drug will affect a human when tested without testing it on animals" may present an ethical concern.
Checklist for Reviewing Your Hypothesis
To be certain that your hypothesis has the following characteristics, use this checklist to review your hypothesis:
1. Is the hypothesis testable through experimentation or observation?
2. Can the hypothesis be proven false?
3. Is the hypothesis logically deduced from known facts?
4. Is your hypothesis clear and specific?
5. Does your hypothesis relate to previous research or theories?
6. Will there be any ethical issues with the proposed research?
7. Are your independent and dependent variables well defined?
8. Is your hypothesis concise and ambiguity free?
9. Did you get feedback to help in refining your hypothesis?
10. Does your hypothesis contain a null hypothesis for comparison?
By making sure that your hypothesis has these qualities, you are much more likely to set yourself on the course of higher-quality research and larger impacts. WPS AI can help fine-tune a hypothesis to ensure it is well-structured and clear.
Drafting a good hypothesis is the real inception of any research project. WPS AI, with its advanced language functions, can very strongly improve this stage of your study. Here's how WPS AI can help you perfect your hypothesis:
Check Grammar and Syntax
Grammar and punctuation errors can make your hypothesis weak. WPS AI checks and corrects this with the assurance that your hypothesis is as clear as possible and professional in its presentation. For example, when your hypothesis is written, "If the temperature increases then plant growth will increases", WPS AI can correct it to "If the temperature increases, then plant growth will increase."
Rewrite Your Hypothesis for Clarity
There needs to be a clear hypothesis. WPS AI can suggest ways to reword your hypothesis so that it makes sense. If your original hypothesis is, "More sunlight will result in more significant plant growth due to photosynthesis," WPS AI can suggest, "Increased sunlight will lead to greater plant growth through enhanced photosynthesis."
Automatic Content Expansion
Sometimes, your hypothesis or the related paragraphs may require more detail. WPS AI's [Continue Writing] feature can help enlarge the content. For example, after having written, "This study will examine the effects of sunlight on plant growth", using [Continue Writing] it can enlarge it to, "This research paper is going to study how sunlight affects the growth of plants by measuring their height and their health under different amounts of sunlight over a period of six weeks."
WPS AI is a great tool that can help you in drafting a good hypothesis for your research. It will help you check grammar, syntax, clarity, and completeness. Using WPS AI , you will be assured that the results of your hypothesis will be well-written and clear to understand.
The hypothesis is one single testable prediction regarding some phenomenon. The theory is an explanation for some part of the natural world which is well-substantiated by a body of evidence, together with multiple hypotheses.
If your results turn out not to support your hypothesis, analyze the data again to see why your result rejects your hypothesis. Do not manipulate the observations or experiment so that it leads to your hypothesis.
Yes, there may be more than one hypothesis, especially when one research study is examining several interrelated phenomena or variables. Each hypothesis has to be separately and clearly stated and tested.
Correct formulation of a strong, testable hypothesis is one of the most critical steps in the application of the scientific method and within academic research. The steps provided in this article will help you write a hypothesis that is clear, specific, and based on available knowledge. Give the tools and tips a try to elevate your academic writing and kick your research up a notch.
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In this study, phylogenetic and biogeographic methods are used to investigate the evolutionary relationships between various types of Italian pasta ripiena (filled pasta) and related representatives from across Eurasia, using information from their geography, shape, content and cooking methods. Our results showed that, with the exception of the Sardinian Culurgiones , all the other pasta ripiena from Italy likely had a single origin in the northern parts of the country. Based on the proposed evolutionary hypothesis, the Italian pasta are divided into two main clades: a ravioli clade mainly characterized by a more or less flat shape, and a tortellini clade mainly characterized by a three-dimensional shape. The implications of these findings are further discussed.
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Across Italy, a dizzying array of local variants of stuffed-pasta ( pasta ripiena ) dishes are prepared and served that often, from one town to another, show minor differences in size, shape, ingredients, or methods of preparation and serving. They are known by many different names, but the common feature in all pasta ripiena is the placement of uncooked filling in a thin shell made of rolled-out dough, which is then closed and shaped into specific forms before cooking. The use of local wild food plants or varieties of vegetables, herbs and spices as ingredients for filling or serving sauces adds unique layers of authenticity to family recipes that are often passed down for generations, reflecting the unique biocultural diversity in the country [ 1 ].
The Italian pasta ripiena are part of a large family of Eurasian stuffed dumplings that similarly come in a wide array of shapes and forms and are known by many different names, for example, the Turkish manti , German maultaschen , Polish pierogi , Jewish kreplach , Russian pelmeni , Georgian khinkali, Tibetan momo , Chinese wonton , Japanese gyoza , and many others. It is unclear whether all dumplings had a singular origin or evolved independently, or how the remarkable diversity observed in Italy is related to the greater variation present in Eurasia. Based on linguistic similarities, it has been speculated that stuffed dumplings were probably first invented in the Middle East and subsequently spread across Eurasia by Turkic and Iranian peoples [ 2 ]. Dumplings were known in China during the Han Empire (206 BC-220 AD) [ 3 ], where archaeological remnants of noodles from this period were also discovered [ 4 ]; however, in the same era, pasta had not yet made its appearance in Europe. The Italian ravioli have also been suggested to be a descendent of the Greek manti [ 5 ]. However, such scholarly theories often lack solid empirical evidence.
In Italy, ravioli are probably the oldest historically documented filled pasta, even though the early iterations of this dish evidently did not include the enclosing pasta casing [ 6 ]. Between the 12 and 13 centuries, a settler from Savona agreed to provide his master with a lunch for three people made of bread, wine, meat and ravioli, during the grape harvest [ 7 ]. Tortelli [ 8 ] and agnolotti [ 9 ] first appeared in literature much later. However, the origins of the iconic tortellini are controversial. The long-standing historical feud between the cities of Bologna and Modena over who invented the tortellini was symbolically settled at the end of the 19 century by Bolognese poet and satirist Giuseppe Ceri, who, in his poem “ L’ombelico di Venere ” (the navel of Venus), declared Castelfranco Emilia, a town halfway between the two cities, to be the birthplace of tortellini . According to this legend, one day, while Venus, Mars and Bacchus were visiting a tavern in Castelfranco Emilia, the innkeeper inadvertently caught Venus in a state of undress and was so astonished at the sight of the goddess’ navel that he ran into the kitchen and created tortellini in her honor. Clearly, a product as perfect as tortellini could be inspired only by Venus, the goddess of beauty [ 10 ].
In his legendary 1891 cookbook, Pellegrino Artusi [ 11 ] listed a total of approximately 10 dishes that can be counted as pasta ripiena, including three different kinds of tortellini : Italian tortellini ( agnellotti ), tortellini Bolognese , and pigeon-meat tortellini . He included all the stuffed pasta under “ Minestre ” (soups) since they are usually served in broth.
The century following Artusi witnessed an explosion in nontraditional recipes for stuffed pasta across Italy, with entire cookbooks dedicated to hundreds of new and unique varieties. David Alexander’s [ 12 ] modern morphological classification of Italian pasta includes the “ ravioli (filled pasta) family”, with 33 dishes grouped into four different types: “Sachet”, Circular, Semi-circular, and “Crimped and tied” (Table 1 ). His map of regional origins correctly identified northern Italy as the hotspot of diversity for this group, with only two variants further south ( Crespelle in Molise and ‘ Culigiones ’ [sic] in Sardinia).
In this study, phylogenetic and cladistic approaches were employed for the first time to investigate the origin and evolution of pasta ripiena, with a focus on Italy. The investigation focused on whether it is possible to empirically categorize Italian stuffed pasta into discrete evolutionary units; If so, how did these groups appear and evolve, what are their unique characteristics (if any), and how are they related to one another and to non-Italian stuffed pasta.
2.1 selection of the in-group.
Even though it is difficult to speak of “standard” or “main” varieties of pasta ripiena , for this study, a selection was made of 28 entries that represented not only the types that have moved out of local spread and into national/international spread ( ravioli, tortellini, etc.) but also local specialties such as the Sardinian culurgiones , Mantovan turtèl sguasaròt and others, alongside nine selected outgroups from across Eurasia (Table 1 ). Some entries were considered despite their close nomenclatural affinity (e.g., cjalzons and cjarsons , both from Friuli Venezia Giulia), primarily to determine if there are any meaningful differences between them. All non- ripiena pasta, including lasagna, gnocchi , open-shelled, layered or rolled pasta, as well as deep-fried pastries such as gnocco fritto , empanada or samosa, were excluded from this study. Dessert varieties of some of these entries, where the filling is often sweet and very different, were also not considered.
Using recipes from Artusi’s original 1891 edition of La scienza in cucina e l’arte di mangiar bene (“ Science in the kitchen and the art of eating well ”) alongside popular cookbooks focused on pasta [ 6 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ] and additional online resources (giallozafferano.it, Pasta Grannies channel on YouTube.com), a dataset for the 37 entries with 15 characters was created, coding for a wide range of characteristics—from their geographical provenance to the ingredients used in making the pasta and the filling, as well as the cooking and serving methods (Table 2 ). Among the 15 characters, eight were binary (present or absent), and seven were multistate. The provenance of the Italian pasta was divided into four main regions: northern Italy (all of the north to Liguria and Emilia-Romagna), central Italy (Tuscany and Marche to Lazio and Abruzzo), southern Italy (Molise and Campania to Sicily), and Sardinia. Selected characteristics included whether the flour used in making the pasta was primarily soft or durum wheat, and whether the eggs were used in preparation of the dough. Pasta shapes were coded according to the scheme proposed by Schira [ 6 ], and pasta size was coded in four categories from small (e.g., tortellini ) to very large (e.g., tortelli alla lastra ). The flatness or three-dimensional nature of the filled pasta was also considered. The folding of the pasta was classified into nine categories, from simple folded-and-thumb-pressed to wrapped around the finger, rolled, or bundled. Other considerations included whether vegetables or meat constituted the main ingredient of the filling, and whether any dairy products were included. Cooking was coded as boiled, pan-fried, roasted or steamed pasta. It was also taken into account whether the final dish was served primarily in broth or with sauce, if the sauce was meat or nonmeat based, and whether butter or oil was used in serving.
The final data matrix was converted into nexus format in MESQUITE [ 18 ]. A heuristic add-and-rearrange method was initially used with the tree search criterion set to treelength, using the Subtree Pruning and Regrafting (SPR) rearranger and a maximum number of equally good trees set to 10000. Bayesian analysis was conducted in MRBAYES 3.2.6 [ 19 ], with Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) analysis allowed to run for 50,000,000 generations and repeated multiple times to check for convergence and stationarity. The results were subsequently tested using TRACER 1.7.1 [ 20 ]. Trees were edited using FIGTREE 1.4.4 [ 21 ]. A Maximum likelihood (ML) tree was further generated with the IQTREE web server ( http://iqtree.cibiv.univie.ac.at ) [ 22 ] with 10000 ultrafast bootstrap replicates. Finally, the regional divisions selected for the provenance of Italian pasta ripiena were incorporated in an analysis to reconstruct the ancestral distributions. The R package BioGeoBEARS [ 23 ] was used to compare three possible models of past geographical range estimation based on the Akaike information criterion and, for each of them, also a variant with a founder effect (parameter j): dispersal–extinction–cladogenesis (DEC), dispersal–vicariance analysis (DIVALIKE) and BI for discrete areas (BAYAREALIKE). The program then reflects these likelihoods as pie charts with all possible ranges for each node and their respective probabilities. A maximum of four possible ancestral areas was allowed.
Our inferred phylogenies using different methodologies demonstrated slightly different topologies (Fig. 1 ). As expected with variable categorical data, the overall support (bootstrap and Bayesian posterior probabilities) for deeper nodes was weak. Different types of pasta did not always group together based on their shape or provenance, and often appeared in unexpected sister-group relationships. Throughout our analyses, the Sardinian culurgiones had an unstable position, sometimes appearing within the Italian clade as a sister to the other Sardinian entry puligioni and sometimes among the outgroups. The Italian pasta ripiena was monophyletic only according to our Bayesian analysis. Entries with unique autapomorphies, such as tortelli alla lastra of Corezzo (a fire-baked pasta) or the turtèl sguasaròt of Mantova (bean-filled pasta served with peanut oil), appeared on long branches within clades with other pasta with whom they shared synapomorphies such as their shape or size.
Maximum Likelihood ( A ) and Bayesian ( B ) inference of the data. Values show ( A ) bootstrap support of 10000 replicates and ( B ) Bayesian Posterior Probabilities for each node
Throughout our analyses, aside from the outgroups, the Italian pasta appeared in two main groups: a “ ravioli clade” and a “ tortellini clade” (Fig. 2 ). The ravioli clade included ravioli, tordelli, schlutzkrapfen, cjarsons, cjalzons, casunziei, ciaroncie, tortél-dóls, and turtel sguasaròt. Even though, in our Maximum Likelihood analysis, this clade was monophyletic, it appeared paraphyletic in our Bayesian analysis (Fig. 1 ). Two additional entries ( cappellacci and zembi d’arzillo ) were also part of the ravioli group in our Maximum Likelihood analysis; however, they appeared as part of the tortellini clade in the Bayesian inference. The most important shared characteristic of this group (with the exception of cappellacci ) is the “flatness” of their shape. On the other hand, the tortellini clade contained all the remaining Italian pasta ripiena , with the main shared characteristic being their three-dimensional nature. The rolled pasta ripiena entries casoncelli, caramelle and scarpinocc always clustered together.
Phylogeny of pasta ripiena . The geographical regions considered include A : northern Italy (blue), B : central Italy (aqua), C : southern Italy (green), D : Sardinia (yellow), and E : outgroups (red). Pie charts show ancestral distribution probabilities inferred by BioGeoBEARS
The preferred biogeographical model according to the corrected Akaike information criterion was the dispersal–extinction–cladogenesis model with a founder effect (DEC + j) (Supplementary Information S1 ). This model predicted a high likelihood of a north-Italian origin for the ancestral Italian pasta ripiena . The Sardinian culurgiones was the only exception since it appeared among the outgroups, signaling a possible secondary origin.
Contrary to Alexander [ 12 ] whose classification was based mainly on pasta shapes, our multivariate analyses showed that with the exception of culurgiones, all the other Italian filled pasta can be classified into two distinct groups: a “ ravioli clade” and a “ tortellini clade” (Fig. 2 ). In addition, it was revealed that these varieties had a single origin in northern Italy, with subsequent dispersal to other regions of the country. As indicated previously, most Italian filled pasta recipes are from the northern and central regions. This clustering is probably correlated with the climate specificities of different Italian regions and the associated differences in agricultural products and food sources available. For example, durum wheat – from which dry pasta shapes are produced – does not thrive on the Padania Plain; thus, fresh pasta, often produced with the addition of eggs, is the speciality of Emilia-Romagna [ 12 ]. In fact, the addition of eggs to dough is much more common in northern areas, with a few exceptions that also stand out in our phylogenetic analysis. A possible explanation for this high local diversity is the phenomenon of “variation on a common theme”, where each town, region and state strived to have their own signature gastronomy and to claim a type of pasta for their own [ 12 ]. Our proposed evolutionary clustering shows that the now well-established distinctive pasta shapes were likely not so strongly differentiated in the past. A hypothetical framework that could explain this local radiation of shapes is a gradual differentiation in both space and time and the subsequent loss of intermediate forms in favor of more “identity-defining” shapes.
This “proximity” hypothesis, however, does not fully explain our results. Because of their unique characteristics, some of the Italian entries (e.g., culurgiones or tortelli alla lastra ) often appeared among the outgroups, albeit with weak support. In fact, the latter two entries are the only Italian pasta ripiena prepared without eggs in the dough. Culurgiones in particular shares many other characteristics with Eurasian bundle-shaped dumplings and often appeared among the outgroups in our analyses, suggesting a second, independent origin with respect to the North Italian cluster. Culurgiones are made with durum wheat semolina and are endemic to the island of Sardinia, which is climatically, agriculturally, and historically different from northern and central parts of Italy.
One limitation of this study was that some crucial variables for which no data were available through primary sources (recipes) could not be codified, and thus they were excluded. An example pertains to the way filled pasta are consumed (e.g., the peculiar method of eating khinkhali with a characteristic imbibing of the juices). In addition, taste and other sensory properties could not be considered, i.e., the use of pork vs. cow meat, the exact nature of the seasoning (e.g., Allium-based vs. aromatic plants vs. others), the diverse amount of possible aged cheese varieties used (e.g., pecorino, parmigiano, etc.) or their rate of "umami" contributions. Sensory perception, an important indicator in food products, is largely influenced by shape [ 24 , 25 ]. In the case of pasta, at the physicochemical level, shape affects the surface area exposed to boiling water, determining the rate of hydration and the degree of gelatinization of the starch during cooking, thus affecting the textural properties and even the digestibility of the cooked pasta [ 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ]. Texture, in turn, influences the oral tactile sensation and sensory perception [ 30 ]. Studies have shown that basic taste, such as sweetness, is related not only to the sugar content in a product but also to its hardness or viscosity, influencing the speed of its spread in the oral cavity during the eating process [ 31 ]. Furthermore, surface roughness or presence of hollow spaces, as also pertinent to pasta shapes, affects sauce adhesion and retention [ 32 ]. Each type of pasta is in fact an artificial geometric element on its own right. The mouth perceives the physical differences between one shape of pasta and another, providing the brain with different information about volume, texture, and smoothness. Hence, pasta with different shapes turn out differently with the same ingredients, and the multitude of existing shapes are by no means interchangeable for Italians because each has its “right” pairing with the sauce.
The shape and size of foods also affect consumer preference, as they can influence the implicit associations individuals make about an object and its value [ 33 ]. Shape has not only a pragmatic but also a symbolic and communicative function [ 34 ] and is easily recognizable and tied to cultural identity. A stiff dough of semolina or flour, water and possibly eggs is as malleable and versatile as clay and can be shaped as a distinctive and identifying element, historically established as “traditional,” but without excluding the possibility of further evolution and innovation. 3D-printed unconventional pasta shapes, characterized by a high degree of personalization and complexity, have been developed [ 35 ] to convey cultural content [ 32 ], and the design concept of “morphing” [ 36 ], that is, a change in shape under certain conditions, has been recently applied to pasta [ 37 ]. Morphing pasta is flat, 2D pasta, that transforms into 3D during cooking due to water hydration and starch gelatinization. Morphing pasta is suitable for flat packaging, reducing shipping costs and storage space. Although not suitable for stuffed pasta, morphing technology is still another example of how many implications the shape of pasta has.
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to provide empirical evidence towards a scientific classification of Italian pasta ripiena . Even though the primary sources used to create the dataset for this study were by nature nonscientific, they are in many ways the most reliable sources due to their historicity and/or popular usage. The addition of other filled pasta and dumpling varieties from across Italy and Eurasia and the inclusion of other informative characters that can add further resolution to the phylogenetic inference are the next steps in this research. Evaluation of elements such as taste and methods of consumption would require surveys and experimental design and can perhaps be considered in a subsequent, more inclusive study on all Eurasian pasta ripiena .
All the data used in this study are provided in their entirety within the paper or as supplementary materials.
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The authors would like to thank Andrea Chiesi (Parma, Italy) for inspiring this research, Soojin Yang (Bra [CN], Italy) for original drawings used in this study, and Massimo Montanari (Bologna, Italy) for his comments on an early draft of the manuscript.
Open access funding for this study was provided by Università degli Studi di Padova.
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Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
Vazrick Nazari, Sofia Belardinelli & Telmo Pievani
Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences (DISSPA), University of Bari, Bari, Italy
Antonella Pasqualone
University of Gastronomic Sciences, Pollenzo, Italy
Andrea Pieroni
Department of Medical Analysis, Tishk International University, Erbil, Iraq
Department of Environment and Biodiversity, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
Valentina Todisco
Department of Humanities, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
Sofia Belardinelli
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V.N. created the dataset, performed the phylogenetic analyses and wrote the manuscript. A.Pa. revised the manuscript and wrote part of the discussion. A.Pi. provided intellectual input and revised the manuscript. V.T. performed biogeographic analysis. S.B. and T.P. provided analytical perspective, wrote part of the discussion and revised the manuscript. All authors have read, reviewed, and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Correspondence to Vazrick Nazari .
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Nazari, V., Pasqualone, A., Pieroni, A. et al. Evolution of the Italian pasta ripiena : the first steps toward a scientific classification. Discov Food 4 , 57 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-024-00136-1
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FAQs: Characteristics of a Good Hypothesis. In the realm of scientific research, a hypothesis plays a crucial role in formulating and testing ideas. A good hypothesis serves as the foundation for an experiment or study, guiding the researcher towards meaningful results. In this FAQ-style subsection, we'll explore the characteristics of a good ...
hypothesis. science. scientific hypothesis, an idea that proposes a tentative explanation about a phenomenon or a narrow set of phenomena observed in the natural world. The two primary features of a scientific hypothesis are falsifiability and testability, which are reflected in an "If…then" statement summarizing the idea and in the ...
A snapshot analysis of citation activity of hypothesis articles may reveal interest of the global scientific community towards their implications across various disciplines and countries. As a prime example, Strachan's hygiene hypothesis, published in 1989,10 is still attracting numerous citations on Scopus, the largest bibliographic database ...
Developing a hypothesis (with example) Step 1. Ask a question. Writing a hypothesis begins with a research question that you want to answer. The question should be focused, specific, and researchable within the constraints of your project. Example: Research question.
"A hypothesis would be simple if a researcher has more insight towards the problem," P.V. Young states. W-ocean said, "A theory should be as sharp as a razor's blade". As a result, a good hypothesis must be straightforward and devoid of complication. Clarity A hypothesis must have a coherent conceptual foundation.
A good hypothesis is usually based on previous evidence-based reports. Hypotheses without evidence-based justification and a priori ideas are not received favourably by the scientific community. Original research to test a hypothesis should be carefully planned to ensure appropriate methodology and adequate statistical power.
Here are some good research hypothesis examples: "The use of a specific type of therapy will lead to a reduction in symptoms of depression in individuals with a history of major depressive disorder.". "Providing educational interventions on healthy eating habits will result in weight loss in overweight individuals.".
Characteristics of a Good Hypothesis. There are three general characteristics of a good hypothesis. First, a good hypothesis must be testable and falsifiable. We must be able to test the hypothesis using the methods of science and if you'll recall Popper's falsifiability criterion, it must be possible to gather evidence that will disconfirm ...
A research hypothesis (also called a scientific hypothesis) is a statement about the expected outcome of a study (for example, a dissertation or thesis). To constitute a quality hypothesis, the statement needs to have three attributes - specificity, clarity and testability. Let's take a look at these more closely.
Like Newton's hypothesis, the one offered by Einstein has all of the characteristics of a good hypothesis." "Like all scientific ideas and explanations," says Dave, "hypotheses are all partial and temporary, lasting just until a better one comes along." That's good news for scientists of all ages.
Characteristics of a Good Hypothesis. There are three general characteristics of a good hypothesis. First, a good hypothesis must be testable and falsifiable. We must be able to test the hypothesis using the methods of science and if you'll recall Popper's falsifiability criterion, it must be possible to gather evidence that will disconfirm ...
7. Statistical hypothesis. The point of a statistical hypothesis is to test an already existing hypothesis by studying a population sample. Hypothesis like "44% of the Indian population belong in the age group of 22-27." leverage evidence to prove or disprove a particular statement. Characteristics of a Good Hypothesis
A hypothesis is an educated guess or prediction of what will happen. In science, a hypothesis proposes a relationship between factors called variables. A good hypothesis relates an independent variable and a dependent variable. The effect on the dependent variable depends on or is determined by what happens when you change the independent variable.
INTRODUCTION. Scientific research is usually initiated by posing evidenced-based research questions which are then explicitly restated as hypotheses.1,2 The hypotheses provide directions to guide the study, solutions, explanations, and expected results.3,4 Both research questions and hypotheses are essentially formulated based on conventional theories and real-world processes, which allow the ...
An effective hypothesis in research is clearly and concisely written, and any terms or definitions clarified and defined. Specific language must also be used to avoid any generalities or assumptions. Use the following points as a checklist to evaluate the effectiveness of your research hypothesis: Predicts the relationship and outcome.
The steps to write a research hypothesis are: 1. Stating the problem: Ensure that the hypothesis defines the research problem. 2. Writing a hypothesis as an 'if-then' statement: Include the action and the expected outcome of your study by following a 'if-then' structure. 3.
This article explores how a hypothesis is used in psychology research, how to write a good hypothesis, and the different types of hypotheses you might use. The Hypothesis in the Scientific Method In the scientific method , whether it involves research in psychology, biology, or some other area, a hypothesis represents what the researchers think ...
A good research hypothesis typically involves more effort than a simple guess or assumption. Generally, a good hypothesis: is testable, meaning it must be possible to show that a hypothesis is ...
The scientific method. At the core of biology and other sciences lies a problem-solving approach called the scientific method. The scientific method has five basic steps, plus one feedback step: Make an observation. Ask a question. Form a hypothesis, or testable explanation. Make a prediction based on the hypothesis.
A research hypothesis is referred to as a scientific hypothesis. This is a clear, specific, and testable statement that predicts the expected result in a scientific study. It is a prediction, reasonable guess, and logical supposition about the relationship between the variables. A research hypothesis is an integral and central part of research ...
Hypothesis is a prediction of the outcome of a study. Hypotheses are drawn from theories and research questions or from direct observations. In fact, a research problem can be formulated as a hypothesis. To test the hypothesis we need to formulate it in terms that can actually be analysed with statistical tools.
Dig Deeper: Defining Hypothesis. A key concept to experimental data is the hypothesis. While we will go more in depth into how to handle a hypothesis and the characteristics of a good hypothesis in Chapter 9, Hypothetico-deductive Research, it is important that we define it now to help guide you in determining an appropriate research method.
Following are the characteristics of the hypothesis: The hypothesis should be clear and precise to consider it to be reliable. If the hypothesis is a relational hypothesis, then it should be stating the relationship between variables. The hypothesis must be specific and should have scope for conducting more tests.
Good Hypothesis Statement Examples for Science Fair. Crafting a solid hypothesis can make a science fair project stand out. It should be based on observable phenomena and be measurable. Botany: Plants watered with diluted coffee will grow faster than those watered with plain water. Chemistry: Adding salt will increase the boiling point of water.
Characteristics of a Good Hypothesis. Alt tag: Characteristics of a Good Hypothesis. A good hypothesis is seen as the backbone of doing effective research. Following are some key characteristics that define a good hypothesis: Testable. A good hypothesis has to be testable either by experimentation or observation. The hypothesis should clearly ...
Selected characteristics included whether the flour used in making the pasta was primarily soft or durum wheat, and whether the eggs were used in preparation of the dough. Pasta shapes were coded according to the scheme proposed by Schira [ 6 ], and pasta size was coded in four categories from small (e.g., tortellini ) to very large (e.g ...