Two important characteristics of a hypothesis are that it should be testable and that it should be stated
Two important characteristics of a hypothesis are that it should be testable and that it should be stated in a manner that it can be refuted. Which one of the following hypothesis fulfills these characteristics?
(a) Intelligent persons have good memory
(b) Some birds are animals
(c) Some businessman are dishonest
(d) All men are mortal
1 Answers
(a) According to both the characteristics of the hypothesis, (a) only satisfies the criteria because in case of being testable, intelligent person can be tested positively and in case of refutation also it can be shown that all the persons, having sound memory are not intelligent. While hypothesis (d) neither is testable nor is refutable due to its universal truthness, the hypothesis (b) can not be refuted because no bird can be claimed non-animal. In case of hypothesis (c), it is testable but not refutable.