Final answer:
In the social sciences, a theory is a reasoned explanation for a set of events or conditions, supported by considerable evidence and experimentation. It is distinct from everyday usage where 'theory' might imply a simple guess, as scientific theories like germ theory in biology are well-supported and verified explanations.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the social sciences, a theory is b. a reasoned explanation for a set of events or conditions. This definition aligns with the understanding that a theory is not merely a guess or speculation but is instead an explanation that is thoroughly tested and supported by substantial evidence. Unlike everyday use, where people might describe theories as simple hunches or guesses, in the social sciences, a theory is a comprehensive explanation that has been supported by numerous experiments and has high credibility due to its evidence base.
For example, germ theory in biology is a well-established explanation of how diseases are caused by microorganisms. This theory was proposed as a hypothesis, rigorously tested over time across multiple experiments, and now serves as a fundamental principle in medicine due to the overwhelming supportive evidence.
In contrast, a hypothesis in social sciences is an educated guess about predicted outcomes between variables and can become a theory once it has been extensively tested and verified across different groups and in various settings.