![]() Many of the great discoveries in science did not begin with a hypothesis in mind. A biologist studying biodiversity might wonder, “What types of birds are found on island X?” The biologist would observe sightings of birds and perhaps sketch them and record their bird calls but would not be guided by a specific hypothesis. A good deal of science is observational and descriptive-the study of biodiversity, for example, usually involves looking at a wide variety of specimens and maybe sketching and recording their unique characteristics. ![]() Some types of investigations do not lend themselves to hypothesis testing through experimentation. Not every investigation requires a hypothesis. These concepts do not form a sequence for the development of scientific knowledge because each represents a different type of knowledge. ![]() Sometimes the words hypothesis, theory, and law are inaccurately portrayed in science textbooks as a hierarchy of scientific knowledge, with the hypothesis being the first step on the way to becoming a theory and then a law. For example, a prediction might take the form of, “If I do, then will happen.” The prediction describes the outcome but it does not provide an explanation of why that outcome might result or describe any relationship between variables. Predictions often use if-then statements, just as hypotheses do, but this does not make a prediction a hypothesis. Predictions forecast the outcome of an experiment but do not include an explanation. ![]() A hypothesis, which is a tentative explanation, can lead to a prediction. Predictions and hypotheses are not the same. Calling a hypothesis a “guess” undermines the explanation that underscores a hypothesis. Hypotheses are developed to explain observations, such as notable patterns in nature predict the outcome of an experiment based on observations or prior scientific knowledge and guide the investigator in seeking and paying attention to the right data. Sometimes the word hypothesis is oversimplified by being defined as “an educated guess.” This terminology fails to convey the explanatory or predictive nature of scientific hypotheses and omits what is most important about hypotheses: their purpose. A hypothesis is not framed as a question but rather provides a tentative explanation in response to the scientific question that leads the investigation. Hypotheses are often confused with questions. Data either support or negate a hypothesis but never prove something to be 100% true or correct. In essence, experimentation as well as other means of scientific investigation never prove a hypothesis-the hypothesis gains credibility from the evidence obtained from data that support it. Students will often state their conclusions as “My hypothesis is correct because my data prove…,” thereby equating positive results with proof (McLaughlin 2006, p. Hypotheses can be tested through experimentation or further observation, but contrary to how some students are taught to use the “scientific method,” hypotheses are not proved true or correct. Hypotheses are used to investigate a scientific question. A hypothesis is a tentative explanation that can be tested and is based on observation and/or scientific knowledge such as that that has been gained from doing background research. However, other possible answers open up discussions to contrast with the provided definition. The best choices are A, B, G, K, L, and M.
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