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Re: Scientific Method
Posted by:
dcarpenter (IP Logged)
Date: July 07, 2022 12:36PM
There are too many reliability issues in your post that could warrant a response. Those responses would likely be duplicative of my prior responses, so I will forgo any response except for one:
"Based on the comment that the scientific method requires evidence one must ask what the definition of evidence is as it is being used in this statement."
I have provided that definition in this context many times. The general definition is based on its use in the larger scientific community.
DATA is INFORMATION that can documented and verified. EVIDENCE is DATA that is assessed for its relevance and reliability in a specific context. All EVIDENCE is DATA, but not all DATA is EVIDENCE.
Again, a practical example is the presence of a house "for sale" sign in front yard. The presence of the sign is DATA that can be documented and verified. Upon assessment, this DATA is not EVIDENCE that can be used to formulate a hypothesis of an Incendiary Fire Cause because it is not relevant and reliable DATA for use in this specific context. Upon assessment, this DATA can be used to FORMULATE a hypothesis that the house is offered for sale.
Experience may provide that "for sale" signs can be located in the front yards of houses that may not be currently offered for sale. Thus, one can collect more DATA by contacting the number on the sign and document and verify if the house is currently being offered for sale to try and disprove the hypothesis.
If the DATA is that the house is being offered for sale, then this DATA and EVIDENCE is consistent (does not disprove the hypothesis) with this hypothesis. Still a valid hypothesis. If the DATA provides that the house is not being offered for sale, then this is EVIDENCE that disproves the hypothesis.
Again, all the EVIDENCE in the world will never "prove" a hypothesis, but a single piece of EVIDENCE can disprove a hypothesis. If the hypothesis is "uniquely consistent" with the available EVIDENCE, then you can determine the most reliable explanation in the context of your hypothesis and the available EVIDENCE.
Douglas J. Carpenter, MScFPE, CFEI, PE, FSFPE
Vice President & Principal Engineer
Combustion Science & Engineering, Inc.
8940 Old Annapolis Road, Suite L
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 884-3266
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