Testability

Testability refers to the ability to run an experiment to test a hypothesis or theory. When designing a research hypothesis, the questions being asked by the researcher must be testable or the study becomes impossible to provide an answer to the inquiry. Testability refers not only to methods used for the investigation but also the constraints of the researcher. Some questions are unable to be answered due to limited access or inability to implement the investigation (e.g., not having the means available to conduct the research). For example, a three-year longitudinal study would be impossible for a student to complete during a semester-long class. This entry addresses some of the issues surrounding testability, such as the ability to create a testable experiment, the impact of ...