Answer:
To determine if a hypothesis is a theory, Francis would need to evaluate whether the hypothesis has been supported by evidence from repeated experiments and has been widely accepted in the scientific community as an explanation for a natural phenomenon.
Therefore, the most appropriate answer is:
- He could design and perform a new controlled experiment to test the hypothesis.
By designing and conducting experiments that test the hypothesis, Francis can generate data to support or refute the hypothesis. If the hypothesis has been repeatedly supported by experimental data and has been validated by the scientific community, it may be considered a theory.
Restating the hypothesis as a fact, adjusting data to match the desired results, or determining whether the hypothesis is based on repeated experiments are not sufficient methods to determine if a hypothesis is a theory. The first two options do not address whether the hypothesis is supported by empirical evidence, while the third option involves manipulating data, which can compromise the validity of the experiment and its results.