Question

All of the following would be examples of goal statements that must be clarified before empirical testing can follow except for _____?

1) Hypotheses
2) Research questions
3) Variables
4) Data analysis

Answer 1

Variables do not require clarification prior to empirical testing like hypotheses and research questions do; they just need to be well-defined and measurable for experimentation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks to identify which of the following would be examples of goal statements that need to be clarified before empirical testing can happen, except for one. The correct response here is Variables, as hypotheses (1), research questions (2), and data analysis (4) are aspects that certainly require clarification to proceed with empirical testing. However, Variables (3) are elements of an experiment that can be tested directly once they are properly defined.

Using the scientific method, we commonly ask a question, formulate a hypothesis, and then perform experiments or observations to test the hypothesis. A hypothesis is a tentative statement about reality that must be testable and falsifiable to be considered for empirical testing.

Variables are integral to this process as well, but in themselves, they do not require clarification in the same way hypotheses or research questions do; they must simply be measurable and controlled or observed within the study.