Explain why hypotheses must be testable




















For example, if we say "Trees will change color when it gets cold. Or if we write, "Ultraviolet light causes skin cancer. One way to prevent making such easy mistakes is to formalize the form of the hypothesis. Formalized Hypotheses example: If skin cancer is related to ultraviolet light , then people with a high exposure to uv light will have a higher frequency of skin cancer. If leaf color change is related to temperature , then exposing plants to low temperatures will result in changes in leaf color.

Notice that these statements contain the words , if and then. They are necessary in a formalized hypothesis. But not all if-then statements are hypotheses. For example, "If I play the lottery, then I will get rich.

In a formalized hypothesis, a tentative relationship is stated. For example, if the frequency of winning is related to frequency of buying lottery tickets. If you always ask yourself that if one thing is related to another, then you should be able to test it. Formalized hypotheses contain two variables. One is "independent" and the other is "dependent.

The ultimate value of a formalized hypothesis is it forces us to think about what results we should look for in an experiment.

An acceptable hypothesis contains both aspects, not just the prediction portion. Purpose : to learn how to use the scientific method by conducting an experiment. You have learned so far that scientists use the "scientific method" in solving problems.

Each lab group will Set-up both experiments; pages 4 and 5 of the lab manual. During the next week each lab group will collect data in tables.

Once the data is collected your group will have to summarize the data and represent the results using a table and figure. Step 1: Introduction material before beginning an experiment. Refer to page 4 of your lab manual for a description of the experiment. Notice that page 4 includes introductory information that explains the underlying hypothesis of spontaneous generation. What is the general question addressed by Procedure 1? This step is not included in a formal lab report introduction section.

What background information is required to explain your formalized hypothesis? For the formal lab report you need to find appropriate cited sources to support your hypothesis. Read the procedure on page 4 of the lab manual to determine the independent and dependent variables. When a hypothesis is created with no prediction to the outcome, it is called a two-tailed hypothesis because there are two possible outcomes.

The outcome could be with effect or without effect, but until the testing is complete, there is no way of knowing which outcome it will be, according to the Web Center for Social Research Methods.

During testing, a scientist may come upon two types of errors. A Type I error is when the null hypothesis is rejected when it is true. A Type II error occurs when the null hypothesis is not rejected when it is false, according to the University of California, Berkeley.

Upon analysis of the results, a hypothesis can be rejected or modified, but it can never be proven to be correct percent of the time. For example, relativity has been tested many times, so it is generally accepted as true, but there could be an instance, which has not been encountered, where it is not true. For example, a scientist can form a hypothesis that a certain type of tomato is red.

During research, the scientist then finds that each tomato of this type is red. Though his findings confirm his hypothesis, there may be a tomato of that type somewhere in the world that isn't red.

Thus, his hypothesis is true, but it may not be true percent of the time. Most formal hypotheses consist of concepts that can be connected and their relationships tested. A group of hypotheses comes together to form a conceptual framework. As sufficient data and evidence are gathered to support a hypothesis, it becomes a working hypothesis, which is a milestone on the way to becoming a theory.

Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph. What Is a Testable Hypothesis? Independent Variable Definition and Examples. Understanding Simple vs Controlled Experiments. Null Hypothesis Definition and Examples. Dependent Variable Definition and Examples. What Is an Appeal to Ignorance Fallacy? What Are the Elements of a Good Hypothesis?

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