Final answer:
Evidence is data that supports or disproves a hypothesis. Testing a hypothesis involves gathering relevant data as evidence and comparing it to the predicted outcomes. Scientific conclusions are based on the strength of evidence and the match between expected and observed data.
Step-by-step explanation:
Evidence of Hypothesis
Evidence is any type of data that supports or disproves a hypothesis. It can be gathered through experiments or observations. For example, if a hypothesis predicts that birds will avoid eating moths with eye spots, evidence that supports the hypothesis would be observing that birds do indeed avoid eating those moths. However, it's important to note that evidence does not conclusively prove a hypothesis to be true, but rather makes it more likely to be true.
Hypothesis Testing
Hypothesis testing involves gathering relevant data as evidence to answer two basic questions: What would be expected if the hypothesis is true, and does the observed data match the predicted outcome? Testing a hypothesis helps determine whether it is supported or unsupported by the evidence.
Conclusion
When a hypothesis is supported by a large body of experimental evidence, it may eventually be considered as true. However, scientists need to consider competing hypotheses and use criteria such as the match between expected and observed data to judge the strength of a hypothesis.