Which best describes a hypothesis?

Which best describes a hypothesis?

• A. A general statement with no relation to data
• B. An assertion there is a relationship between two variables and the nature of that relationship
• C. A review of literature
• D. A fixed design

Answer: (B)

A hypothesis is a testable statement that proposes a relationship between two or more variables and specifies the expected direction or nature of that relationship. It guides what data to collect and how to analyze it, because you’re looking to see whether the data support that specific relationship. This is why the description that there is a relationship between two variables and the nature of that relationship is the best fit. The other options don’t describe a hypothesis: a general statement with no relation to data isn’t testable; a literature review summarizes existing work rather than proposing a testable relation; a fixed design refers to the plan for conducting the study, not a statement about how variables are related.

A hypothesis is a testable statement that proposes a relationship between two or more variables and specifies the expected direction or nature of that relationship. It guides what data to collect and how to analyze it, because you’re looking to see whether the data support that specific relationship. This is why the description that there is a relationship between two variables and the nature of that relationship is the best fit.

The other options don’t describe a hypothesis: a general statement with no relation to data isn’t testable; a literature review summarizes existing work rather than proposing a testable relation; a fixed design refers to the plan for conducting the study, not a statement about how variables are related.