Final answer:
The relationship between the variables in a hypothesis is determined by the research question, which guides the tentative explanation or prediction that the hypothesis represents. It should allow for testable predictions through scientific experimentation.
Step-by-step explanation:
When formulating your hypothesis, what determines the relationship between your variables is primarily the research question. A hypothesis is a conjectural statement about the relationship between two or more variables. It serves as a tentative explanation for observations and is a component of the scientific method. After developing a research question, a hypothesis is formulated based on the initial observations or existing knowledge on the topic. It is important to note that a hypothesis should be testable and put into a form that allows for scientific experimentation to either support or refute it.
For example, if the observation is that there is a potential relationship between the amount of sunlight received and the growth rate of a plant, a hypothesis might predict that increasing the amount of sunlight will increase the plant's growth rate. This hypothesis can then be tested through controlled experiments where the independent variable (sunlight) is manipulated to observe the effect on the dependent variable (plant growth).