Which step in the historical research process allows you to decide what you think your outcome may be?

I believe the answer is: hypothesis

Hypothesis refers to the initial explanation that a researcher made to explain a certain occurrence before obtaining the evidence. The next step that the researchers do after making the hypothesis is arranging an experiment to proof whether their hypothesis is correct or wrong. The hypothesis would act as a starting point in the experiment.

i disagree that there is little difference between adult female development and adult male development. sociological studies comparing female and male pathways to adulthood, revelead that there are sustancial differences between them. particularly, female and male differ from timing of marriage, when they began to live with children and the likelihood of combining wife/husband and parent roles.