<P> A hypothesis is a conjecture , based on knowledge obtained while formulating the question , that may explain any given behavior . The hypothesis might be very specific ; for example , Einstein 's equivalence principle or Francis Crick 's `` DNA makes RNA makes protein '' , or it might be broad ; for example , unknown species of life dwell in the unexplored depths of the oceans . A statistical hypothesis is a conjecture about a given statistical population . For example , the population might be people with a particular disease . The conjecture might be that a new drug will cure the disease in some of those people . Terms commonly associated with statistical hypotheses are null hypothesis and alternative hypothesis . A null hypothesis is the conjecture that the statistical hypothesis is false ; for example , that the new drug does nothing and that any cure is caused by chance . Researchers normally want to show that the null hypothesis is false . The alternative hypothesis is the desired outcome , that the drug does better than chance . A final point : a scientific hypothesis must be falsifiable , meaning that one can identify a possible outcome of an experiment that conflicts with predictions deduced from the hypothesis ; otherwise , it can not be meaningfully tested . </P>
<P> A hypothesis is a conjecture , based on knowledge obtained while formulating the question , that may explain any given behavior . The hypothesis might be very specific ; for example , Einstein 's equivalence principle or Francis Crick 's `` DNA makes RNA makes protein '' , or it might be broad ; for example , unknown species of life dwell in the unexplored depths of the oceans . A statistical hypothesis is a conjecture about a given statistical population . For example , the population might be people with a particular disease . The conjecture might be that a new drug will cure the disease in some of those people . Terms commonly associated with statistical hypotheses are null hypothesis and alternative hypothesis . A null hypothesis is the conjecture that the statistical hypothesis is false ; for example , that the new drug does nothing and that any cure is caused by chance . Researchers normally want to show that the null hypothesis is false . The alternative hypothesis is the desired outcome , that the drug does better than chance . A final point : a scientific hypothesis must be falsifiable , meaning that one can identify a possible outcome of an experiment that conflicts with predictions deduced from the hypothesis ; otherwise , it can not be meaningfully tested . </P>
what must a scientist do prior to generating a hypothesis
what must a scientist do prior to generating a hypothesis
formulating the question
formulating the question