What is an Observation?
An observation is the act of noticing and describing events or processes in a careful, systematic way. It involves gathering information using our five senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste) or scientific instruments. Observations are factual and objective, recording 'what is' without immediate interpretation of 'why' or 'how'.
What is a Hypothesis?
A hypothesis is a testable statement or educated guess that attempts to explain an observation or a set of observations. It is a proposed explanation that can be supported or refuted through experimentation or further observation. A valid hypothesis must be falsifiable, meaning there must be a possible outcome that would prove it false.
Distinguishing Their Roles in the Scientific Method
The crucial difference lies in their function: an observation is the starting point, the 'what' that sparks curiosity, while a hypothesis is an attempt to explain that 'what' and is designed to be tested. Observations lead to questions, and hypotheses propose answers to those questions. Observations are evidence; hypotheses are proposed explanations for that evidence.
Practical Example: A Plant Experiment
An observation might be: 'The plant in direct sunlight grew taller than the plant in the shade.' A hypothesis derived from this observation could be: 'If a plant receives more sunlight, then it will grow taller due to increased photosynthesis.' The observation is a statement of fact, while the hypothesis is a testable prediction about a cause-and-effect relationship.