Difference between revisions of "Scientific method"

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(New page: ==The Scientific Process== *Observations are made of certain phenomena. *Facts are established. *Patterns are looked for in data/observation. *Scientific principles are established, consis...)
 
 
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==The Scientific Process==
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==The scientific method==
 
*Observations are made of certain phenomena.
 
*Observations are made of certain phenomena.
 
*Facts are established.
 
*Facts are established.
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*Principle is refined/rejected depending on new observations.   
 
*Principle is refined/rejected depending on new observations.   
  
===Remember Trust nothing, test everything===
 
*Never cover up flaws in your theory, expose them instead.
 
*Always be honest, most importantly be honest to yourself.
 
  
===Theory===
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===Remember===
*A good theory is a consistent model that is built on simple undisputable facts.  
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*Trust nothing, test everything
===Hypothesis===
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*Never cover up flaws in your theory, expose them instead.
*A hypothesis is a provisional idea whose merit is still to be evaluated.  
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*Always be honest, most importantly be honest to yourself.
  
==Pseudoscience==
 
*Pseudoscience is anything that pretends to be science but fails in the attempt.
 
  
===Common signs of pseudoscience===
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== External links ==
*Claims with no supporting experimental evidence.
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*[http://www.physics.brocku.ca/etc/cargo_cult_science.php Cargo Cult Science by Richard Feynman]
*Claims which contradicts experimental evidence.
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*Claims that can't be proved false.
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*Failing to consider all the facts.
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*Failing to provide an experimental possibility of reproducible results.
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*Violating the principle of choosing the simplest explanation when multiple viable explanations are possible.
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Some of these may be part of the scientific process at one stage but should be eliminated through iteration of the process.
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[[Category:General information]]

Latest revision as of 14:36, 23 March 2008

The scientific method

  • Observations are made of certain phenomena.
  • Facts are established.
  • Patterns are looked for in data/observation.
  • Scientific principles are established, consistent with all of the evidence.
  • Predictions may be made based on the principles established.
  • Experiments are done to test the scientific principle.
  • Principle is refined/rejected depending on new observations.


Remember

  • Trust nothing, test everything
  • Never cover up flaws in your theory, expose them instead.
  • Always be honest, most importantly be honest to yourself.


External links