hypothetico-deductive method

[ hahy-puh-thet-i-koh-di-duhk-tiv ]
/ ˌhaɪ pəˈθɛt ɪ koʊ dɪˈdʌk tɪv /

noun Logic.

a method in which a hypothetical model based on observations is proposed and is then tested by the deduction of consequences from the model.

Origin of hypothetico-deductive method

1925–30; hypothetic(al) + -o- + deductive, probably as translation of Italian ipotetico-deduttivo