scientific method en · NOUN
Pronunciation
Meanings
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A method of discovering knowledge about the natural world based in making falsifiable predictions (hypotheses), testing them empirically, and developing theories that match known data from repeatable physical experimentation.
1858 - George Woodyatt Hastings, Andrew Edgar, Charles Wager Ryalls, Edwin Pears - Transactions of the National Association for the Promotion of Social Science Mr. Payne's paper aimed at the introduction of a scientific method founded upon rational principles which were altogether unknown to the mass
Let us sharply distinguish here between two epistemological positions. The first, extreme physicalism, asserts that only physics and its branches can be considered sciences. Hence, all observations must be formulated in the language of physics. The second position, a sort of liberal empiricism, recognizes a variety of legitimate methods and languages within the family of science. Indeed, since different types of problems are considered to require different methods of analysis, a diversity of scientific methods and expressions is not merely tolerated, but is considered necessary. According to this position, the value, and hence the scientific legitimacy, of any particular method or language depends on its pragmatic utility, rather than on how closely it approximates the ideal model of theoretical physics.
1974, Thomas S. Szasz, M.D., chapter 6, in The Myth of Mental Illness, →ISBN, page 102:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| scientific methods | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Hypernyms
Relateds
empirical · historical method · empiricism · methodology · scientific research · falsifiability · Occam's razor · scientific methodology · Enlightenment · scholarly method · hypothesis
Translations (26)
ro metodă științifică (method of discovering knowledge) · de wissenschaftliche Methode (method of discovering knowledge) · id metode ilmiah (method of discovering knowledge) · fi tieteellinen menetelmä (method of discovering knowledge) · ru нау́чный ме́тод (method of discovering knowledge) · ja 科学的方法 (method of discovering knowledge) · vi phương pháp khoa học (method of discovering knowledge) · fr méthode scientifique (method of discovering knowledge) · tk ylmy usul (method of discovering knowledge) · mk научен метод (method of discovering knowledge) · el επιστημονική μέθοδος (method of discovering knowledge) · ms kaedah saintifik (method of discovering knowledge) · gl método científico (method of discovering knowledge) · es método científico (method of discovering knowledge) · ko 과학적 방법 (method of discovering knowledge) · pt método científico (method of discovering knowledge) · pl metoda naukowa (method of discovering knowledge) · cmn 科學方法 /科学方法 (method of discovering knowledge) · ka მეცნიერული მეთოდი (method of discovering knowledge) · fa روش علمی (method of discovering knowledge) · hu tudományos módszer (method of discovering knowledge) · it metodo scientifico (method of discovering knowledge) · tl pamamaraang pang-agham (method of discovering knowledge) · hi वैज्ञानिक विधि (method of discovering knowledge) · cs vědecká metoda (method of discovering knowledge) · ar اَلْمِنْهَج الْعِلْمِيّ (method of discovering knowledge)