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HypotheticoDeductiveMethodTestingTheories

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Hypothetico-Deductive Method

Hypothetico-Deductive Method
Martyn Shuttleworth

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The hypothetico-deductive method is one of the mainstays of scientific research,

often regarded as the only 'true' scientific research method.
This area fuels intense debate and discussion between
This article is a part of the guide:

many fields of scientific specialization.

Reasoning

Concisely, the method involves the traditional steps of

Discover 13 more articles on this

topic

observing the subject, in order to elaborate upon an

area of study. This allows the researcher to generate a
testable and realistic hypothesis.

Don't miss these related articles:

1 Falsifiability

The hypothesis must be falsifiable by recognized

2 Inductive Reasoning

scientific methods but can never be fully confirmed,

3 Deductive Reasoning

because refined research methods may disprove it at

4 Scientific Reasoning

a later date.

5 Testability

From the hypothesis, the researcher must generate

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some initial predictions, which can be proved, or

disproved, by the experimental process. These

1 Scientific Reasoning

predictions must be inherently testable for the

2 Hypothetico-Deductive Method

hypothetico-deductive method to be a valid process.

2.1 Falsifiability
2.2 Verification Error
2.3 Testability
2.4 Post Hoc Reasoning
3 Deductive Reasoning
4 Inductive Reasoning
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5 Causal Reasoning
6 Abductive Reasoning
7 Defeasible Reasoning
8 Overview

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For example, trying to test the hypothesis that God exists would be difficult, because there is no
scientific way to evaluate it.

Generating and Analyzing the Data

The next stage is to perform the experiment, obtaining statistically testable results, which can be
used to analyze the results and determine whether the hypothesis has validity or has little
foundation. This experiment must involve some manipulation of variables to allow the generation of
analyzable data.
Finally, statistical tests will confirm whether the predictions are correct or not. This method is
usually so rigorous that it is rare for a hypothesis to be completely proved, but some of the initial
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predictions may be correct and will lead to new areas of research and refinements of the
hypothesis.

Assessing the Validity of the Hypothesis

Proving and confirming a hypothesis is never a clear-cut and definitive process. Statistics is a
science based on probability, and however strong the results generated; there is always a chance of
experimental error.
In addition, there may be another unknown reason that explains the results. Most theories, however
solid the proof, develop and evolve over time, changing and adapting as new research refines the
known data.
Proving a hypothesis is never completely accurate but, after a process of debate and retesting of
the results, may become a scientific assumption. Science is built upon these 'paradigms' and even
commonly accepted views may prove to be inaccurate upon further exploration.
A false hypothesis does not necessarily mean that the area of research is now closed or incorrect.
The experiment may not have been accurate enough, or there may have been some other
contributing error.
This is why the hypothetico-deductive method relies on initial predictions; very few hypotheses, if
the research is thorough, are completely wrong as they generate new directions for future research.

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2 Inductive Reasoning
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4 Scientific Reasoning
5 Testability

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How to cite this article:

Martyn Shuttleworth (Oct 10, 2008). Hypothetico-Deductive Method. Retrieved Feb 24,
2015 from Explorable.com: https://explorable.com/hypothetico-deductive-method

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