Which statement best describes the relationship between observations and hypotheses in the scientific method?

• A. Hypotheses lead to observations
• B. Observations lead to hypotheses
• C. Observations and hypotheses are unrelated
• D. Hypotheses are only formed after experiments

Answer: (B)

Observations spark a hypothesis. When you notice something in the natural world, you ask questions about why it happens and propose a testable explanation—a hypothesis—that makes a prediction you can check with further data or experiments. The key is that the hypothesis is built to be tested, so experiments are designed to see if the predicted outcome occurs. If the results support the prediction, the hypothesis gains support; if they don’t, you revise the explanation and test again. In short, observations provide the evidence that leads to formulating a testable hypothesis, not the other way around.