THE NATURE AND ROLE OF HYPOTHESES IN SCHOOL SCIENCE INVESTIGATIONS

Investigations form an integral and significant part of school science activities. The creation of hypotheses is an essential part of any sc ientific investigation, but no coherent concept of hypothesis can be d erived from the current literature of science education. By focusing o n the role of hypotheses as tentative solutions to problems, a basic c oncept of hypothesis is proposed. This is developed and differentiated in relation to the different kinds of knowledge which science educati on seeks to promote. It is argued that recognizing different kinds of hypothesis in this way can help to clarify both the aims and the metho ds of scientific investigation in schools.