A hypothesis is typically tested through which of the following?

• A. Only after data collection.
• B. By consulting theoretical texts.
• C. Through experiments or observations.
• D. By adjusting the hypothesis to fit results.

Answer: (C)

Testing a hypothesis means collecting evidence that could support or contradict its predictions. The usual way to do this is through experiments, where you control and manipulate variables to observe causal effects, or through observations, where you gather data from the real world when experiments aren’t possible. This data lets you analyze whether the results match the predicted outcome. Consulting theoretical texts doesn’t provide empirical evidence about the hypothesis, and adjusting the hypothesis after seeing the results isn’t true testing—it just fits the claim to the data. In short, hypotheses are evaluated by gathering and analyzing data from experiments or observations.