[Home]ScientificMethod

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  1. Observe some aspect of the universe.
  2. Invent a theory that is consistent with what you have observed.
  3. Use the theory to make predictions.
  4. Test those predictions by experiments or further observations.
  5. Modify the theory in the light of your results.
  6. Go to step 3.

- http://home.xnet.com/~blatura/skep_1.html


JohnStuartMill is generally credited with formalising this method (though of course it was used long before that), despite the fact that it was WilliamWhewell? who coined the term "Scientist".

Some would modify the above steps by insisting for each hypothesis there must be a NullHypothesis to test it against.

(See also KarlPopper)

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