The Scientific Method:
Core Steps of the Scientific Method
1. Observation and Question: Scientists observe a naturally occuring phenomenon and formulate specific questions about it.
2. Hypothesis Formation: Based on observations, scientists develop a testable hypothesis—a proposed explanation that makes specific predictions.
3. Experimentation: Scientists design and conduct controlled experiments to test the hypothesis, gathering empirical data.
4. Analysis and Conclusion: Scientists analyze the experimental data to determine whether it supports or refutes the hypothesis, and draw appropriate conclusions.
(5. Communication and Refinement: Scientists publish their findings for peer review, allowing others to replicate experiments and refine hypotheses through further testing.) <=Not really necessary imo. As the scientific method, if performed correctly, either proves or disproves something, definitively.
Components of a Well-Formed Hypothesis
A proper scientific hypothesis must be:
1. Falsifiable: Must be capable of being proven wrong through experimentation.
2. Precise: Must make specific predictions about what will happen under defined conditions.
3. Variable-Focused: Must clearly identify:
The independent variable (what the researcher manipulates or changes)
The dependent variable (what the researcher measures as a result)
The proposed relationship between these variables ("If X changes, then Y will respond in Z way")
4. Controllable: Must account for:
Control groups to provide a baseline comparison
Controlled variables (factors kept constant throughout the experiment)
Potential confounding variables that might affect results
5. Explanatory: Must propose a causal mechanism that explains the observed phenomenon.
6. Parsimonious: Should be the simplest explanation consistent with existing knowledge.
The identification of variables and controls is essential to proper experimental design and is foundational to the scientific method's ability to establish causation rather than merely correlation. Without these elements, a hypothesis lacks the structure needed for rigorous testing.
So in conclusion, most pseudoscientists fail to employ the scientific method in the second step (and often in the first step!!). If the independent variable does not exist or cannot be controlled and manipulated by the observer, then it isn’t following the scientific method!!
So there goes ALL of astronomy, astrophysics and theoretical physics. Oops!
@TheParanormiesPresent
@AltSkull48
