The option that is not a characteristic of a good hypothesis is the one that says (or implies) that a hypothesis is un-testable / vague / cannot be checked with data.

Because you didn’t list the exact options, here’s how to quickly spot the “wrong” one in a multiple-choice question on this topic: A good hypothesis is usually:

  • Clear and precise.
  • Testable using observation or experiments (empirically verifiable).
  • Falsifiable (it can, in principle, be shown false by data).
  • Based on known facts and consistent with existing theory.
  • Specific and simple enough to understand and test.
  • States a clear relationship between variables, usually in declarative form.

So the option that is not a characteristic will be something like:

  • “It cannot be tested empirically.”
  • “It is vague and ambiguous.”
  • “It does not relate to observable facts.”
  • “It cannot be disproved.”

Any such statement contradicts the core requirement that a good hypothesis must be clear, testable, and falsifiable.

Quick exam-style tip

If your choices look like:

  • a. It is testable by empirical methods
  • b. It is clear and precise
  • c. It is consistent with known facts
  • d. It cannot be verified by observation

Then (d) is the one that is not a characteristic of a good hypothesis, because a hypothesis that cannot be verified or tested is not scientifically useful.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.