Formulation of hypothesis is one of the key ingredients of scientific research and this is because it allows the scientists, researchers or experimenters to have a direction through which their study follow suit. Moreso, hypothesis also allows the researcher to provide possible solutions to problems through which the intended study identified in the society. However, despite its importance in the writing of research study, some scholars still finds it difficult to state hypothesis in an appropriate way while others struggle on which type of hypothesis is to be stated in a research study. Therefore, this article is based on the dearth discovered among researchers especially among undergraduates on hypothesis formulation and is aimed at providing the basis in which hypothesis can be formulated

‘Hypo’ means tentative or subject to the verification and ‘Thesis’ means statement about solution of a problem. The word meaning of the term hypothesis is a tentative statement about the solution of the problem. Hypothesis offers a solution of the problem that is to be verified empirically and based on some rationale. The concept of hypothesis has been evaluated and defined by many scholars in the research study and from most of the definitions reviewed one can say that, an hypothesis is a tentative statement explaining that something will occur or that some will not occur which need to be tested using the most suitable statistics. Basically, there are two main types of research hypothesis when working on Undergraduate research project topics through which other types are derived from. There are;
1. Null hypothesis
2. Alternate Hypothesis
A null hypothesis often donated as H0 is a type of hypothesis that represents a theory that has been put forward, either because it is believed to be true or because it is to be used as a basis for argument, but has not been proved. It that proposes that there is no difference, significant effect (influence) or significant relationship between certain characteristics of a population (or data-generating process). For example in a study with a topic like, the effect of gender on academic performance, the null hypothesis will state that; there is no effect (significant) of gender on academic performance. The null hypothesis is the most considered form of hypothesis in research in that it relates to the statement being tested.

Alternate hypothesis is the second form of research hypothesis. It is the opposite of the null hypothesis. Its proposed that there is a significant difference, significant effect (influence) or significant relationship between certain characteristics of a population (or data-generating process). For example in a study with a topic earlier stated on the effect of gender on academic performance, the alternative hypothesis will state that; there is an effect (significant) of gender on academic performance.

After knowing the concept of research hypothesis, its types and functions in a research, it is pertinent that students/scholar know how to formulate hypothesis. To answer, the following are the steps/hints on how to developed a research hypothesis;
1. Before formulating or developing your hypothesis, be sure to read on the topic to familiarize yourself with it. You need to make sure certain that the topic is researchable in an interdisciplinary sense, meaning that there is sufficient published material on the topic in the legal literature and in the literature of a second or possibly a third discipline to write a 35-page paper or more.

2. Since a research hypothesis has two elements (variables) which are the independent variable and the dependent variable that are in relation to each other. Remember that, within the word "hypothesis" is the word "thesis." Your hypothesis is what you propose to “prove” by your research. As a result of your research, you will arrive at a conclusion, a theory, or understanding that will be useful or applicable beyond the research itself.
3. Judgmental words should be avoided when stating your hypothesis. Value judgments are subjective and are not appropriate for a hypothesis. You should strive to be objective. Therefore the use of personal opinion is to be avoided.
4. Your hypothesis must involve an issue or question that cannot be answered exclusively by the discipline of law. You should try to limit your inquiry to the literatures of 2 or 3 disciplines. Here, it is best to choose a hypothesis where you already have some level of familiarity with the disciplines that are most relevant to the topic for instance when working on economics project topics or related topics for research.
5. Be sure that each term in your hypothesis is clearly understood and defined; do not deal in generalities or assume that the reader knows the meaning of a technical term.

6. Specify, if appropriate, whether you will be dealing with state or federal law or both on a comparative basis if appropriate.
7. Know that your hypothesis may change over time as your research progresses.
Finally, in other devise and perform a research using scientific method, the testability of the hypothesis must be assured. To be considered testable, some essential criteria must be met and without these criteria, the hypothesis and the results will be vague. As a result, the experiment will not prove or disprove anything significant:

1. There must be a possibility to prove that the hypothesis is true.
2. There must be a possibility to prove that the hypothesis is false.
3. The results of the hypothesis must be reproducible.