Before we go further, let us make sure we share a vocabulary. Three terms are used throughout this course:

  1. Hypothesis. A testable statement about how something works.
  2. Evidence. Observations that support or challenge a hypothesis.
  3. Inference. A reasoned conclusion drawn from evidence.

Keep these distinct in your mind. Conflating them is a common source of errors.

Last modified: Monday, 13 April 2026, 3:14 PM