Final answer:
The first step for A/B testing is making a hypothesis. It serves as a proposed explanation or prediction to be tested through controlled experiments, comparing the outcomes between the experimental and control groups.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first step for any kind of A/B testing is b. Making a hypothesis. A hypothesis is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon, used as a starting point for further investigation. When forming a hypothesis for A/B testing, you're typically looking at predicting the impact of two different variables (A and B) to determine which one provides better results in a specific context, such as which version of a website leads to more conversions.
After establishing a hypothesis, the next steps include designing and performing controlled experiments to test its validity. This involves creating an experimental group that receives the treatment or variable being tested and a control group that does not. By comparing outcomes between these groups, you can determine if any differences observed are due to the experimental treatment.
For instance, if a company is testing a new laundry detergent against a competitor's, they would create a hypothesis such as "If consumers use our new detergent, they will prefer it over the leading competitor." After the hypothesis, A/B testing would require creating a control group using the competitor's detergent and an experimental group using the new product to collect and analyze data on consumer preferences.