Which statement best contrasts a research question and a hypothesis?

• A. A hypothesis states what you want to investigate; a research question is a testable prediction.
• B. A research question states what you want to investigate; a hypothesis is a testable statement predicting an outcome based on theory.
• C. A research question is only used in qualitative studies; a hypothesis is only used in quantitative.
• D. A hypothesis is broader than a research question.

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is that a research question defines the inquiry you plan to conduct, while a hypothesis makes a measurable prediction that can be tested. A research question states what you want to investigate and guides the study’s focus, often in an open-ended way. A hypothesis, grounded in theory, is a specific, testable statement about expected relationships or outcomes that you can evaluate with data.

That’s why the best choice says a research question states what you want to investigate, and a hypothesis is a testable statement predicting an outcome based on theory. It captures the distinct roles: one frames the inquiry, the other makes a concrete, testable prediction.

The other ideas mix up these roles or rely on incorrect assumptions. For example, predicting an outcome is what a hypothesis does, not just stating what you want to investigate. And hypotheses aren’t exclusive to quantitative research; they are used to test predictions in many study types, while research questions can be used across qualitative and quantitative work. Finally, a hypothesis is typically more specific and testable, not broader, than a research question.