Which characteristic best describes a good hypothesis?

• A. It is broad and vague
• B. It is testable, clear, and suggests a relationship between two or more variables
• C. It is not testable
• D. It is purely descriptive

Answer: (B)

A good hypothesis is a clear, testable statement that predicts a relationship between variables. It should name the variables (the thing you manipulate versus the thing you measure), indicate the expected direction of the relationship, and be formulated so you can gather data to support or refute it. This makes it possible to design a study, choose appropriate measures, and apply analyses to see if the prediction holds. For example, saying that increasing study time will improve exam scores is testable and specifies a relationship that can be measured and tested. Broad or vague statements can’t be evaluated with data, not‑testable ones can’t be confirmed or disproven, and purely descriptive statements describe what exists without predicting a relationship to be tested, so they don’t function as hypotheses.