Forming and Testing Hypotheses

As language learners develop their interlanguage, they formulate hypotheses about the target language.

Whether or not it is by a conscious process, learners hypothesize grammatical rules for their target language and test them either by analyzing the text or speech of native speakers or by producing sentences of their own.

Bruntt, Karen and Bryanne, Ulla. Handbook for Grammar Detectives, page 22.