A scientific hypothesis is a tentative, testable explanation for a phenomenon in the natural world. It is an idea that proposes a tentative explanation about a phenomenon or a narrow set of phenomena observed in the natural world. The formulation and testing of a hypothesis is part of the scientific method, the approach scientists use when attempting to understand and test ideas about natural phenomena. The two primary features of a scientific hypothesis are falsifiability and testability, which are reflected in an “If…then” statement summarizing the idea and in the ability to be supported or refuted through observation and experimentation.
Here are some key points to remember about scientific hypotheses:
- Hypotheses are used to support scientific research and create breakthroughs in knowledge.
- Hypotheses are not opinions or predictions; they are reasonable expectations based on factual information.
- A hypothesis should relate back to your original question and must be testable.
- A hypothesis can be rejected or modified, but it can never be proved correct 100% of the time.
- In an experiment, researchers generally state their hypotheses in two ways: the null hypothesis and the alternative hypothesis.
Overall, a scientific hypothesis is a crucial component of the scientific method, as it allows scientists to make predictions and test their ideas about natural phenomena.
