A theory is an explanation of a set of related observations or events based upon proven hypotheses and verified multiple times by detached groups of researchers. A hypothesis is made before an experiment while a theory is formed after collecting a lot of scientific evidence. A hypothesis is a statement which is mere an assumption and not scientifically proved while a theory is scientifically proved and accepted statement which explains any natural phenomenon. The hypothesis is based on very limited data while the theory is based on the wide set of data which is repeatedly tested. Theory: A theory is more like a scientific law than a hypothesis. The primary difference between a hypothesis and a theory is the point at which they are formed in the scientific process. Key Differences between Hypothesis and Theory. Hypothesis vs Theory In the scientific world, both the terms ‘hypothesis’ as well as a ‘theory’ holds ample importance. It's so thoroughly proven, you might even call it a "scientific fact." Knowing the difference between a scientific hypothesis vs theory vs law is essential knowledge most people get wrong. The hypothesis is based on possibility and suggestion, whereas the theory is based on the evidence, supportive results and the repeated testing. Learn more with Futurism. They are both a step in the process of developing law. Unfortunately, all of these common impressions aren't quite right. As discussed before, hypothesis is just a conjecture or an idea, which can accurately describe a phenomenon, but is not backed up with solid experimental evidence. The words "fact," "hypothesis," "theory," and "law" have very specific meanings in the world of science, and they don't exactly match the ones we use in everyday language. On the other hand, a theory or a scientific law is a hypothesis that has graduated to be a law, as it has passed the requirement of being validated by experiment. Explore how these terms differ from each other and similar science terms. Hypothesis and theory are two levels of the scientific method, i.e. A hypothesis is based on small-sized data while a theory is based on large-sized data. But outside science, both the terms theory and hypothesis have come to mean the same thing and are often used interchangeably. One scientist cannot create a theory; he can only create a hypothesis. On the contrary, the theory is one, that is assumed to be true and so its result is certain. The hypothesis may or may not be proved true, so the result is uncertain. In common usage, the word theory means just a hunch, but in science, a theory is a powerful explanation for a broad set of observations. theory follows hypothesis and the basis for research is hypothesis whose outcome is a theory.