<P> Any useful hypothesis will enable predictions by reasoning (including deductive reasoning). It might predict the outcome of an experiment in a laboratory setting or the observation of a phenomenon in nature . The prediction may also invoke statistics and only talk about probabilities . Karl Popper, following others, has argued that a hypothesis must be falsifiable, and that one cannot regard a proposition or theory as scientific if it does not admit the possibility of being shown false . Other philosophers of science have rejected the criterion of falsifiability or supplemented it with other criteria, such as verifiability (e.g., verificationism) or coherence (e.g., confirmation holism). The scientific method involves experimentation, to test the ability of some hypothesis to adequately answer the question under investigation . In contrast, unfettered observation is not as likely to raise unexplained issues or open questions in science, as would the formulation of a crucial experiment to test the hypothesis . A thought experiment might also be used to test the hypothesis as well . </P> <P> In framing a hypothesis, the investigator must not currently know the outcome of a test or that it remains reasonably under continuing investigation . Only in such cases does the experiment, test or study potentially increase the probability of showing the truth of a hypothesis . If the researcher already knows the outcome, it counts as a "consequence"--and the researcher should have already considered this while formulating the hypothesis . If one cannot assess the predictions by observation or by experience, the hypothesis needs to be tested by others providing observations . For example, a new technology or theory might make the necessary experiments feasible . </P> <P> People refer to a trial solution to a problem as a hypothesis, often called an "educated guess" because it provides a suggested solution based on the evidence . However, some scientists reject the term "educated guess" as incorrect . Experimenters may test and reject several hypotheses before solving the problem . </P> <P> According to Schick and Vaughn, researchers weighing up alternative hypotheses may take into consideration: </P>

When would using a hypothesis be acceptable instead of a research question