Hypothesis facts for kids
A hypothesis is a proposed idea or explanation for something that happens. It's like an educated guess that you need to test to see if it's right.
For example, a long time ago, in the early 1600s, a man named Galileo Galilei thought the Earth moved around the Sun. But a powerful leader, Cardinal Bellarmine, told him he could only talk about this idea as a hypothesis. He meant it was just an idea, not a proven fact.
Today, a hypothesis is still an idea that needs to be checked. Scientists do experiments or make observations to test if their hypothesis is correct. If a hypothesis is tested and seems to work, it might become part of a bigger theory.
A good hypothesis can be proven wrong. This is called falsifiability. It means there should be a way to show that the idea is not true, even if it turns out to be right. This helps make sure that scientific ideas are strong and well-tested.
Scientists often try out many different hypotheses. They might test and reject several ideas before they find the right answer to a problem.
Sometimes, scientists use a 'working hypothesis'. This is a rough idea they accept for a short time to help them start their research. Even if the idea isn't perfect, it helps them move forward and hopefully develop a better theory.
Hypotheses are super important in science. Many thinkers believe that without these testable ideas, science wouldn't exist. Hypotheses are the starting point for new discoveries. They are suggested ideas that are then tested using experiments or careful observations.
Testing Ideas with Numbers
In statistics, which is about working with numbers and data, people often talk about correlation. Correlation means how closely two events or things are connected.
For example, you might want to test if a certain drug helps people with a medical problem. Even if many people get better after taking the drug (a strong correlation), it doesn't mean it works for everyone. Some people might not get better, or they might get better for other reasons.
When scientists use statistics to test an idea, they usually have two main hypotheses:
- The null hypothesis says there is no connection or link between the things they are studying. For example, it might say the drug has no effect.
- The alternative hypothesis says there is some kind of connection or link. For example, it might say the drug does have an effect.
The alternative hypothesis can be specific. It might say the drug makes people feel better (a positive effect). Or it might just say the drug has some effect, without saying if it's positive or negative.
Related Pages
See also
In Spanish: Hipótesis (método científico) para niños
