In surveys conducted by Gerald, many adolescents reported that they started smoking cigarettes because of peer pressure. In observing adolescent groups, however, Gerald rarely sees adolescents offering each other cigarettes or putting pressure on others to smoke. Gerald predicts that if he conducts further studies on this topic, he will be able to prove that peer pressure is not the primary reason that adolescents start smoking cigarettes. In the context of psychology’s scientific method, Gerald is basing his further studies on:.
A. historical facts.
B. a hypothesis.
C. meta-analysis.
D. an operational definition.