Which concept states that a hypothesis must be structured in a way that allows for possible disproof?

The concept of falsifiability is fundamental to the practice of science and states that for a hypothesis to be considered scientific, it must be structured in such a way that it can be tested and potentially disproven through observation or experimentation. This means that there must be a conceivable outcome or set of outcomes that could contradict the hypothesis if they were to occur.

For instance, if a hypothesis claims that "all swans are white," it is falsifiable because the observation of a single black swan would disprove it. This characteristic distinguishes scientific hypotheses from non-scientific claims that cannot be tested or disproven. Falsifiability not only promotes rigorous testing of ideas but also ensures that scientific knowledge is provisional and subject to revision based on new evidence.

While empiricism emphasizes the role of observation and experience in forming conclusions, and the scientific method describes the systematic process used to conduct research and gather evidence, it is the property of being falsifiable that directly relates to the ability to disprove a hypothesis, serving as a cornerstone of the scientific inquiry. An operational definition outlines how variables are measured or defined in the context of a study but does not inherently address the issue of whether those hypotheses can be disproven.