I need to formulate a hypothesis about human behavior or characteristics and collect data on this. I need to be able to compare this to a known larger population sample.

Which behavior or characteristic have you chosen?

Which population will you study? How will you collect your data?

Have you found a larger population sample for this same hypothesis?

To formulate a hypothesis about human behavior or characteristics and collect data on it, as well as compare it to a known larger population sample, you can follow these steps:

1. Define your research question: Determine the specific aspect of human behavior or characteristics you want to study. For example, you might be interested in investigating the relationship between exercise habits and mood.

2. Formulate your hypothesis: Based on your research question, formulate a clear and testable hypothesis. In our example, a hypothesis could be "Regular exercise is positively correlated with improved mood."

3. Design your study: Decide on a suitable research design to collect data. In this case, you might choose to conduct surveys to measure exercise habits and mood among a specific group of individuals.

4. Choose your sample: Select a representative sample of the population you want to study. The larger the sample size, the more reliable the results are likely to be. Consider factors such as demographics, age range, and geographical location to ensure your sample is diverse and representative.

5. Collect data: Administer your surveys or conduct interviews to gather data from your sample. Ensure that you use standardized and reliable measurement tools to obtain accurate and consistent results.

6. Analyze the data: Use appropriate statistical methods to analyze the collected data and test your hypothesis. In our example, you could use correlation analysis to examine the relationship between exercise habits and mood.

7. Compare to a larger population sample: To compare your findings to a known larger population sample, you can access existing research studies or data sets that have examined similar research questions. Look for published studies or reputable databases that provide information about your population of interest. You can then compare your results with those from the larger population sample to see if they align or differ.

Remember to approach your research with ethical considerations in mind, ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of your participants. It's also crucial to critically interpret your findings, acknowledge limitations, and consider alternative explanations.