Should speculative data be included when creating a hypothesis?

When creating a hypothesis, it is essential to rely on empirical data rather than speculative data. Empirical data is based on observed and measurable evidence, providing a solid foundation for formulating a hypothesis. This approach ensures that the hypothesis is grounded in reality and reflects actual conditions and results rather than assumptions or conjectures.

Speculative data, while it may offer ideas or potential explanations, does not have the reliability that empirical data provides. When crafting a hypothesis, using empirical observations enables investigators to formulate arguments that are testable and verifiable through experimentation and further research. This emphasizes the scientific method's rigor, which seeks to build theories and explanations based on solid, factual ground rather than untested assumptions.