What term means a proposed explanation that can be tested through research?

• A. Positivism
• B. Generalisation
• C. Hypothesis
• D. Pilot study

Answer: (C)

A hypothesis is a proposed explanation that can be tested through research. It’s a precise statement about a relationship between variables that makes predictions you can check with data, allowing you to see whether the claim holds up under observation or experimentation. This testable, falsifiable nature is what makes a hypothesis useful in sociology: it guides what data to collect and what patterns to look for. By contrast, positivism is a worldview about using scientific methods, generalisation refers to applying findings beyond the studied sample, and a pilot study is a small-scale preliminary test of research procedures rather than an explaining claim. So the term that means a proposed explanation that can be tested through research is a hypothesis.