# 🛠️ Assumptions vs. Experiments vs. Hypotheses ![rw-book-cover](https://embed.filekitcdn.com/e/3RJPopRhwkPiTqdkpAybBA/gD9CLNMe8H12Zd3iYphZ28) ## Metadata - Author: [[herbig.co]] - Full Title: 🛠️ Assumptions vs. Experiments vs. Hypotheses - Category: #articles - Summary: The text discusses the differences between assumptions, experiments, and hypotheses in a product development context. Assumptions are beliefs about an idea, experiments test critical assumptions, and hypotheses define success criteria for experiments. To practice this theory effectively, it is important to ensure hypotheses are falsifiable and backed by measurable metrics. - URL: https://newsletter.herbig.co/posts/320?ck_subscriber_id=2324907847&utm_source=convertkit&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=%F0%9F%9B%A0%EF%B8%8F%20Assumptions%20vs.%20Experiments%20vs.%20Hypotheses%20-%2013793443 ## Highlights - [](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet/?text=&url=https://newsletter.herbig.co/posts/320)[](https://facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://newsletter.herbig.co/posts/320)[](mailto:?subject=&body=Visit%20the%20link%20at%20https%3A%2F%2Fnewsletter.herbig.co%2Fposts%2F320) 🛠️ Assumptions vs. Experiments vs. Hypotheses Published 4 days ago • 3 min read * * * ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hx9v8h8qagpvgxr4kck4ajsx)) - **An Assumption** is a statement about what we believe to be true about an idea. Stated in a format like *“We believe…”* Typically, your assumptions center around an idea’s feasibility, usability, viability, desirability, or ethicality. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hx9v85thv11vq6qz0rmym24j)) - **An Experiment** is a technique we use to test the most critical but least proven assumptions to collect reliable evidence about whether a specific assumption is valid. Your experiment technique needs to match the nature of your assumption instead of dogmatically defaulting to A/B tests. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hx9v8xn97qdfghtzhtmyvjfc)) - **A Hypothesis** explicitly defines success for a given experiment and ties it back to the assumption. It describes the measurable change you expect through the chosen experiment technique. Which means it has to be falsifiable. By incorporating your initial assumption, you focus instead of chasing opportunistic ideas. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hx9v9bxfywkjz8zx1gwqwkzb)) - [![](https://embed.filekitcdn.com/e/3RJPopRhwkPiTqdkpAybBA/gD9CLNMe8H12Zd3iYphZ28)](https://newsletter.herbig.co/posts/320) ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hx9v9r1z7xsy8sqj9nvjq4bk))