A hypothesis is a testable statement or prediction about the relationship between variables that can be empirically examined through observation or experimentation.
"A testable prediction about the relationship between two or more variables."
Standard textbook definition
"A hypothesis is falsifiable if it belongs to a language or logical structure capable of describing an empirical observation that contradicts it."
The Logic of Scientific Discovery (1934)
"A statement describing the investigator's expectation about the pattern of data that may result from a given study."
APA Dictionary of Psychology
"The 'Origin' provided us with the working hypothesis we sought... a working basis for further investigation."
On the Reception of the 'Origin of Species' (1887)
| Source | Definition | Key Emphasis |
|---|---|---|
| Oxford Languages | "a supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation." | Starting point, limited evidence |
| Merriam-Webster | "An assumption or concession made for the sake of argument... a tentative assumption made in order to draw out and test its logical or empirical consequences." | Tentative assumption, testing consequences |
| ChatGPT | "a proposed explanation or prediction about how something works, which can be tested through experiments, observations, or analysis" | Explanation/prediction, testability |
| Claude | "a proposed explanation or prediction that can be tested through observation or experimentation. It's essentially an educated guess based on existing knowledge or observations." | Educated guess, existing knowledge |
| DeepSeek | "a testable, falsifiable prediction about the relationship between variables or the outcome of an experiment. It's a proposed explanation that can be supported or refuted through empirical investigation." | Falsifiability, variables, empirical |