Generally there is a dependent and independent variable. The independent variable is considered the cause or the treatment variable. This is the variable that is manipulated by the researcher. The dependent variable or the criterion measure, depends on and occurs after the independent variable. The hypothesis must be worded in a manner that can be operationalized.
Theories allow researchers to formulate hypotheses.
Hypotheses are tested thus theories are the framework for organizing research. Therefore the researcher must identify the theoretical or conceptual framework that is going to guide them in formulating a research problem or question. They may be represented by a schematic model or diagram. They consist of broad concepts and a proposition stating the relationship between the concepts. The proposition lends itself to deductive hypothesis generation.