Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Hypothesis-based science involves making a prediction or hypothesis and then conducting experiments to test its validity. It relies on deductive reasoning to draw specific conclusions from general premises.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Hypothesis-based science follows the scientific method, which includes making observations, forming a hypothesis, conducting experiments, and drawing conclusions.
A hypothesis must be testable and falsifiable, meaning it can be proven wrong through experimentation.
Results from hypothesis-based science can either support or refute the original hypothesis but cannot prove it definitively.
Hypothesis-based science often leads to further questions and hypotheses, driving ongoing research and discovery.
Control groups are essential in hypothesis-based experiments to ensure that any observed effects are due to the variable being tested.
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Related terms
Scientific Method: A systematic process for conducting scientific research involving observation, hypothesis formation, experimentation, and conclusion.
Deductive Reasoning: A logical process where conclusions are drawn from general principles or premises.
Control Group: A group in an experiment that does not receive the experimental treatment, used for comparison with the experimental group.