Difference between revisions of "Scientific method"
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| − | The '''Scientific Method''' is a procedure for the dispassionate inquiry into natural phenomena. It involves the careful collection of data and the development of [[Theory|theories]] which organize those facts into [[Falsifiablity|falsifiable]] explanations. Thus science is built up as a deliberately fragile structure, like a house of cards, that can collapse if any foundational principles are proven to be false. When theories move away from falsifiability and become dogmatic, such as assigning purely human causes for climate change | + | The '''Scientific Method''' is a procedure for the dispassionate inquiry into natural phenomena. It involves the careful collection of data and the development of [[Theory|theories]] which organize those facts into [[Falsifiablity|falsifiable]] explanations. Thus science is built up as a deliberately fragile structure, like a house of cards, that can collapse if any foundational principles are proven to be false. When theories move away from falsifiability and become dogmatic, such as assigning purely human causes for climate change, then we say they are not scientific. |
==The four steps of the scientific method {{fact}}== | ==The four steps of the scientific method {{fact}}== | ||
Revision as of 10:37, April 24, 2007
The Scientific Method is a procedure for the dispassionate inquiry into natural phenomena. It involves the careful collection of data and the development of theories which organize those facts into falsifiable explanations. Thus science is built up as a deliberately fragile structure, like a house of cards, that can collapse if any foundational principles are proven to be false. When theories move away from falsifiability and become dogmatic, such as assigning purely human causes for climate change, then we say they are not scientific.
The four steps of the scientific method[Citation Needed]
1. Careful observation and description of a phenomenon or group of phenomena. (I observe that a heavy steel ship floats on water)
2. Formulation of an hypothesis to explain the phenomena. (I propose that it is the overall density of the ship, rather than its weight that determines if it floats)
3. Use of the hypothesis to predict the existence of other phenomena, or to predict the results of new observations. (To see whether my hypothesis holds true, I predict that any object that is less dense than water will float and any object more dense than water will sink; I test various objects that are more or less dense than water by putting them in a tub.)
4. Replication of the experiments and results by independent experimenters. (rather than take my word for it, my neighbors try the same experiment and look for any flaws in my methodology). Mathematical derivations are also commonly used to support a theory and predict results, but only an experiment can provide conclusive evidence (relativity, for example, could not have been predicted by math alone).
References