A hypothesis is an idea, or an educated guess, about a given state of affairs, a potential relationship between two or more variables, or a possible explanation for a phenomenon, put forward in exact and testable terms to provide the basis for empirical testing in research. A good hypothesis is clear, specific, and falsifiable, meaning that it can be tested through observation or experimentation, and it is possible to find evidence that either supports or contradicts it. Hypotheses often take the form of a statement predicting how one variable (the independent variable) will affect another variable (the dependent variable). The process of formulating and testing hypotheses is central to the scientific method in sociology and other disciplines, allowing researchers to systematically investigate social phenomena and build evidence-based knowledge.