What term describes a clear testable statement?

A clear testable statement is best described as a hypothesis. In research and scientific inquiry, a hypothesis specifically outlines a prediction that can be tested through experimentation or observation. It serves as a foundational element in the scientific method, as researchers formulate hypotheses based on existing knowledge or observations, which can then be supported or refuted through empirical evidence.

In contrast, an assumption is often an accepted belief without the need for proof, while an assessment refers to the process of evaluating or measuring something rather than making a predictive statement. A theory, on the other hand, is a well-substantiated explanation of an aspect of the natural world, which encompasses a broader range of evidence and has undergone extensive testing, but does not specifically represent a testable statement in the way that a hypothesis does.