Hypothesis - GCSE Sociology Definition

In GCSE Sociology, a hypothesis is a statement or prediction that can be tested through research and investigation. It is essentially an educated guess regarding the relationship between two or more variables, based on existing knowledge and theory. For instance, a sociologist might hypothesise that students who participate in extracurricular activities achieve higher academic results than those who do not.

The purpose of formulating a hypothesis is to guide the research process, helping sociologists to clarify their aims, focus their observations, and draw meaningful conclusions that either support or refute their initial predictions.