Which of the Following Statements Best Distinguishes Hypotheses from Theories

Question

Which of the following statements best distinguishes hypotheses from theories in science?
A) Theories are hypotheses that have been proved.
B) Hypotheses are guesses; theories are correct answers.
C) Hypotheses usually are relatively narrow in scope; theories have broad explanatory power.
D) Hypotheses and theories are essentially the same thing.
E) Theories are proved true; hypotheses are often falsified.

Accepted Answer

Hypotheses propose tentative explanations for specific phenomena or observations, while theories are comprehensive explanations that have been repeatedly tested and have broad explanatory power. Theories are supported by a large body of evidence, while hypotheses are tentative and require further testing. Therefore, option C is the best choice as it highlights the differences between hypotheses and theories based on their scope and explanatory power.