Which of the following best describes 'testing the hypothesis'?

Testing the hypothesis involves performing experiments to gather evidence that will help determine the validity of the hypothesis. This process is crucial in the scientific method, where a hypothesis is proposed as a tentative explanation for an observation or phenomenon. By designing and conducting experiments, scientists can collect data, which may either support or refute the hypothesis based on the outcomes.

The essence of testing lies in its systematic approach to investigating the hypothesis under controlled conditions, allowing for the observation of cause-and-effect relationships. This evidence-driven process is fundamental in establishing scientific knowledge, as it seeks to confirm or challenge what has been suggested by the hypothesis.

In contrast, conducting background research is focused on gathering existing knowledge to inform the hypothesis formation. Making a final conclusion involves analyzing the results after hypothesis testing, while writing a report summarizes the findings and communicates them to the broader community. Thus, while all these activities are parts of the scientific process, performing experiments to gain evidence is specifically what constitutes testing the hypothesis.