Hypothesis

High school (ages 12+)
Thinking & Learning

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/hypothesis

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the epistemological function?A provisional, testable explanation that serves as the basis for empirical investigation
2. What is the philosophical underpinning?Must be falsifiable, allowing for potential disproof through evidence
3. Why do scientists need hypotheses?Hypotheses help scientists turn big questions into clear, focused experiments. They act like a compass, guiding the whole research process.
4. How can a hypothesis be tested?Scientists design experiments or collect data that can prove the hypothesis true or false. The hypothesis must be written so that it could be shown wrong if the evidence says so.

Empirical Evidence: Information acquired through observation and experimentation, forming the basis of scientific knowledge.
Falsifiability: The principle that a scientific statement must be capable of being proven false through testing.
Independent Variable: The factor in an experiment that is manipulated or changed by the researcher.
Dependent Variable: The factor in an experiment that is measured to see if it is affected by the independent variable.