Step 1: Hysteresis Defined.
Hysteresis occurs when a system's output is influenced by its historical states, not just its present state. In measurement contexts, this results in directional dependence, where data differs based on the scanning direction.
Step 2: Conclusion.
Therefore, hysteresis explains the inconsistency in measurements arising from different scanning directions, identifying it as the correct response from the provided choices.
Final Answer: \[\boxed{3. \text{Hysteresis}}\]