• It is generally uncommon and not recommended to have more than about 4 or 5 hypotheses in a PhD thesis, primarily due to the depth of analysis required for each hypothesis and the space constraints of the thesis document. Having too many hypotheses may prevent sufficient, thorough analysis of each within the typical length and scope of a PhD thesis.
• However, there is no strict formal limit on the number of hypotheses you can include. Some fields and thesis formats (such as multiple-paper theses) may allow or even require addressing multiple related hypotheses or research questions, especially if they contribute to a coherent overall theme or research objective. The key is that the hypotheses should be logically connected and manageable in terms of research scope.
• while you can have more than 20 hypotheses, it is highly unusual and likely impractical to do so in a PhD thesis due to the need for detailed analysis and coherence in your research narrative.

Hi Abhijit Pathak ! Of course you can have 20 hypotheses, it depends mainly on two criteria. First, you need to have the theory to support all the hypotheses. Second, it depends on the sample you have. The higher the number of predictors, indicators and paths, the higher must be your sample.

I agree with Rungradit Kongyoungyune and I recommend you not to complicate too much the model and include only those hypotheses that really contribute to the research objective.

Yes, it is completely acceptable to have more than 20 hypotheses in a PhD thesis, especially when dealing with complex models like Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) involving multiple independent variables, mediators, and dependent variables. In such cases, when direct, indirect, and mediated effects are tested across various constructs, the number of hypotheses can easily exceed 20 or even 30. The key is to ensure that each hypothesis is theory-driven, logically justified, and contributes meaningfully to the research objectives. Organizing hypotheses into categories such as direct effects, indirect effects, and domain-specific effects can help maintain clarity and structure. As long as the hypotheses are well-founded and align with the research framework, having a higher number is not only acceptable but often necessary to comprehensively address the research questions.

You can find examples from various thesis available on platforms like Shodhganga (India) – https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in, the ProQuest Dissertation Database, and institutional repositories of major research universities. By searching these platforms with keywords related to your area of interest, you can explore those that align with your topic and see how researchers have structured and framed their hypotheses. This approach not only helps you understand the typical number of hypotheses in complex studies but also guides you in formulating and organizing your own research framework effectively.

@Shweta Dwivedi thank u mam for your response, I will be more grateful if you could share 1 or 2.dissertation and I don't have access to proquest too.