Science

From WikiSynergy

Science encompasses the efforts of mankind to understand the phenomena observed in the universe around us, and more specifically, the investigations and results that conform to the scientific method.

In a nutshell, the scientific method follows these steps:

1. Observation of phenomena
2. Forming hypothesis about nature of phenomena
3. Using hypothesis to make a testable prediction
4. Designing and conducting an experiment to test the prediction
5. Evaluating results of experimentation
6. Improving or discarding hypothesis based on evaluations of experiment

Note that steps 4 and 5 are a specialized form of step 1, and step 6 is likewise a specialized form of step 2, showing the "looping" nature of this process.

While there are many aspects to modern science that are very well-established and relatively easy to re-test at any time, such as physics and chemistry, there are also aspects that are more difficult to apply this method to, usually because they involve subjective rather than objective phenomena. An example would be patients reporting on the pain relief they experience due to a given treatment.

See also

• Standards of evidence
• Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence

References