Which activity involves forming a tentative explanation that can be tested?

Which activity involves forming a tentative explanation that can be tested?

• A. Observation
• B. Hypothesis
• C. Data
• D. Scientific method

Answer: (B)

A hypothesis is a tentative explanation that can be tested. It’s an educated guess about how something works, designed so you can evaluate it with experiments or observations. Because a hypothesis is testable and falsifiable, you can gather evidence to see whether it is supported or refuted, often phrased as an if-then statement that makes a specific prediction. This sets it apart from mere observations (which collect information) and data (which are the results themselves), and from the scientific method as a whole (the full process that includes formulating, testing, and drawing conclusions).

A hypothesis is a tentative explanation that can be tested. It’s an educated guess about how something works, designed so you can evaluate it with experiments or observations. Because a hypothesis is testable and falsifiable, you can gather evidence to see whether it is supported or refuted, often phrased as an if-then statement that makes a specific prediction. This sets it apart from mere observations (which collect information) and data (which are the results themselves), and from the scientific method as a whole (the full process that includes formulating, testing, and drawing conclusions).