Which term describes a generalized statement derived from observations?

• A. Hypothesis
• B. Theory
• C. Conclusion
• D. Observation

Answer: (C)

Drawing a generalized statement from what you’ve observed is making a conclusion. When you analyze multiple observations and see a pattern, you infer what those observations collectively indicate, and you put that into a generalized claim. A conclusion is the statement that ties the data together and describes what the observations suggest. This differs from a hypothesis, which is a testable guess you propose before testing; a theory, which is a well-supported, broad explanation; and an observation, which is simply the data you’ve collected. For example, after several trials showing that a metal darkens when exposed to air, you can conclude that oxidation is occurring under those conditions.