Difference between revisions of "Scientific method"

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(Deleted meaningless example - nobody asserts that *only* human actions are responsible for climate change, and there is plenty of dispute over the issue, despite broad scientific consensus.)
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The '''Scientific Method''' is a procedure for the dispassionate inquiry into any and all phenomena. 
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#REDIRET [[Scientific theory]]
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It involves the careful collection of data and the development of [[Theory|theories]] which organize those facts into [[Falsifiablity|falsifiable]] explanations. 
 
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When theories move away from falsifiability and become dogmatic, then we say they are not scientific (see [[pseudoscience]]).
 
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Each scientific theory 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.
 
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==The four steps of the scientific method {{fact}}==
 
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1. '''Careful observation and description of a phenomenon or group of phenomena.''' (I observe that a heavy steel ship floats on water)
 
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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)
 
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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.)
 
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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).
 
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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).
 
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==References==
 
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<references/>
 
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* http://teacher.pas.rochester.edu/phy_labs/AppendixE/AppendixE.html
 
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* http://physics.ucr.edu/~wudka/Physics7/Notes_www/node6.html
 
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* http://biology.clc.uc.edu/Courses/bio104/sci_meth.htm
 
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[[category:science]]
 

Revision as of 18:51, May 17, 2007

  1. REDIRET Scientific theory
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