Hypotesis

A hypothesis is a tentative explanation or educated guess that can be tested through observation and experiment. In science, it is a statement that makes a prediction about a relationship between variables.

A well-formed hypothesis is testable and falsifiable; it specifies what will be observed if the prediction is true and what would count as evidence against it. It often takes the form of a cause-effect or correlational statement and is later tested by data collection.

Hypotheses are subject to modification or rejection based on results. They guide study design, including the selection of variables, methods, and controls. In many fields, researchers differentiate between a null hypothesis, which asserts no effect or relationship, and an alternative hypothesis, which asserts the presence of an effect.

Examples: If a nutrient is scarce, plant growth will be reduced (testable prediction). In medicine, a new drug will lower blood pressure more than a placebo.

Spelling note: The standard English term is hypothesis (plural hypotheses). Hypotesis is a common misspelling. In other languages, the equivalent term varies (for example, hipótesis in Spanish).