Which term refers to a specific, testable prediction about what you expect to find?

• A. Research Question
• B. Empirical Research
• C. Causal Inference
• D. Hypothesis

Answer: (D)

A hypothesis is a specific, testable prediction about what you expect to find. It states a concrete relationship or difference between variables so you can design measurements and analyses to confirm or refute it. For example, a hypothesis might say that a new teaching method will lead to higher test scores than the standard method. This makes the statement falsifiable and guides data collection and statistical testing.

This differs from a research question, which identifies what you want to study without making a crisp, testable prediction. It also differs from empirical research, which refers to the process of gathering and analyzing data, and from causal inference, which is about drawing conclusions about cause-and-effect after analyzing data. The idea of a testable prediction—the ability to be tested against evidence—is what makes it precisely a hypothesis.