Research hypotheses are             .OptionsFormulated prior to a review of the literatureNoneboth a and b are correctStated such that they can be confirmed or refuted

Sure, let's break down the question and the options step by step to determine the correct answer.

The question is: "Research hypotheses are __________."

The options are:

1. Formulated prior to a review of the literature
2. None
3. Both a and b are correct
4. Stated such that they can be confirmed or refuted

Step-by-Step Analysis:

1. Formulated prior to a review of the literature:

   • Typically, research hypotheses are not formulated prior to a review of the literature. The literature review helps researchers understand the current state of knowledge on a topic, identify gaps, and formulate hypotheses based on existing evidence and theories.

2. None:

   • This option suggests that none of the provided statements are correct. We need to evaluate the other options first to determine if this is true.

3. Both a and b are correct:

   • This option would be correct only if both the first option (Formulated prior to a review of the literature) and the second option (None) are correct. Since "None" contradicts the idea that the first option is correct, this option cannot be true.

4. Stated such that they can be confirmed or refuted:

   • This is a fundamental characteristic of research hypotheses. They must be stated in a way that allows for empirical testing, meaning they can be either confirmed or refuted based on evidence.

Conclusion:

Based on the analysis, the correct answer is:

Stated such that they can be confirmed or refuted