Writing a Hypothesis—continued
Step 2. How to Write a Hypothesis
A hypothesis contains the words, if and then. If = the cause, and then = the effect. In the statement below the cause and the effect are in bold.
If skin cancer is related to ultraviolet light, then people with a high exposure to UV light will have a different frequency of skin cancer.
Notice that there is no mention of a higher or lower frequency of skin cancer. An experiment should not be designed with an expected outcome. Your question or prediction has an expected outcome. However, a hypothesis is outcome-neutral.
