Hypothesis

Hypothesis, a preliminary assumption or tentative explanation that accounts for a set of facts, taken to be true for the purpose of investigation and testing; a theory.

The Scientific Method is a systematic approach to research. The philosophy of this empiricist approach is described in Western Philosophy: Pragmatism. Various methods of obtaining data are used; see Research Techniques for examples.

Hypothesis formation is discussed in Psychology: Methods of Research.

Falsifiability is the most important feature of hypothesis testing. Methods of testing (falsifying) hypotheses include Dialectic, Logic, Probability, and Statistics.

Some famous hypotheses:

• in astronomy and cosmology: the Big Bang Theory, the Steady-State Theory, and the Copernican System
• in the life sciences: the theory of Natural Selection, Conditioning, and Behaviorism
• in earth sciences: Continental Drift, the asteroid theory of Dinosaur Extinction, and the rival theories of Uniformitarianism and Catastrophism
• in physics: the Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle, the quest for a Unified Field Theory
• in mathematics, computer and information sciences: Theory of Equations, Automata Theory, Game Theory, and Decision Theory.