Which term refers to the initial educated guess that explains the relationship between variables?

• A. Experiment
• B. Independent Variable
• C. Hypothesis
• D. Dependent Variable

Answer: (C)

A hypothesis is an educated guess about how two variables relate. It offers a proposed explanation and a specific prediction that can be tested through experimentation. This guess shapes the study by identifying what you will change (the independent variable) and what you will measure (the dependent variable). After running the experiment and analyzing the data, you determine whether the results support or refute the prediction. In this context, the term that names that initial, testable guess about the relationship between variables is the hypothesis, making it the best answer.