hypothetico-deductive


hypothetico-deductive

(ˌhaɪpəˈθɛtɪkəʊdɪˈdʌktɪv) adj (Philosophy) pertaining to or governed by the supposed method of scientific progress whereby a general hypothesis is tested by deducing predictions that may be experimentally tested. When such a prediction is falsified the theory is rejected and a new hypothesis is required