Final answer:
A potential answer to a question that can be tested by gathering information is known as a hypothesis. It suggests a possible relationship between an independent variable, which researchers manipulate, and a dependent variable, which is observed to see if it is affected by the changes in the independent variable.
Step-by-step explanation:
A potential answer to a question that can be tested by gathering information is formally asked as a hypothesis. A hypothesis in scientific research is a tentative and testable statement that predicts a possible explanation to a particular problem or question. It is formed based on scientific knowledge and must be logical, simple, testable, and falsifiable. To verify or refute a hypothesis, researchers design experiments that manipulate one or more variables.
The independent variable (IV) is the variable that is changed or controlled in an experiment to test its effects on the dependent variable. For example, a scientist may change the temperature (IV) to see its effect on rabbit coat color (DV). The dependent variable (DV) is what is being studied and measured in an experiment; it is the variable that is affected by the independent variable.
During designing an experiment, two groups are typically used, the experimental group and the control group. The experimental group receives the experimental manipulation, while the control group does not. This ensures that any observed changes in the dependent variable are due to the manipulation of the independent variable.