How a Research Hypothesis Becomes a
Theory
The scientific
method attempts
to explain the natural occurrences (phenomena)
of the universe by using a logical, consistent, systematic method of
investigation, information (data)
collection, data analysis (hypothesis),
testing (experiment),
and refinement to arrive at a well-tested, well-documented, explanation that is
well-supported by evidence, called a theory. The
process of establishing a new scientific theory is necessarily a grueling one;
new theories must survive an adverse gauntlet of skeptics who are experts in
their particular area of science; the original theory may then need to be
revised to satisfy those objections. The typical way in which new
scientific ideas are debated are through refereed scientific journals, such as
Nature and Scientific American. (Depending upon the area of science,
there are many other journals specific to their respective fields that act as
referees.) Before a new theory can be officially proposed to the
scientific community, it must be well-written, documented and submitted to an
appropriate scientific journal for publication. If the editors of these
prestigious publications accept a research article for publication, they are
signaling that the proposed theory has enough merit to be seriously debated and
scrutinized closely by experts in that particular field of science.
Skeptics or proponents of alternative or opposing theories may then try to
submit their research and data, while the original proponents of the proposed
theory may publish new data that answers the skeptics. It may take many
years of often acrimonious debate to settle an issue, resulting in the
adoption, modification, or rejection of a new theory. For example, the
Alvarez Meteorite Impact theory (a 6-mile wide meteorite struck the earth 65
million years ago, ending the Cretaceous Period and causing extinction of the
dinosaurs), was first proposed in 1979, and took about 10 years of debate
before winning over the majority of earth scientists.
A successful scientific inquiry may culminate
in a well-tested, well-documented explanation (theory) that is supported overwhelmingly by valid data, and
often has the power to predict the outcome of certain scenarios, which may be
tested by future experiments. There are rare examples of scientific
theories that have successfully survived all known attacks for a very long
time, and are called scientific laws, such as Newton's Law of Gravity.
Below is a generalized sequence of steps
taken to establish a theory
1. Choose and define the
natural phenomenon that you want to figure
out and explain.
2. Collect information (data) about this phenomena by
going where the phenomena occur and making observations. Or, try to
replicate this phenomena by means of a test (experiment) under controlled conditions (usually in a
laboratory) that eliminates interference's from environmental conditions.
3. After collecting a lot
of data, look for patterns in the data. Attempt to explain these
patterns by making a provisional explanation, called a hypothesis.
4. Test the hypothesis by
collecting more data to see if the hypothesis continues to show the assumed
pattern. If the data does not support the hypothesis, it must be changed,
or rejected in favor of a better one. In collecting data, one must NOT
ignore data that contradicts the hypothesis in favor of only supportive
data. If
a refined hypothesis survives all attacks on it and is the best existing
explanation for a particular phenomenon, it is then elevated to the status of a theory.
5. A theory is subject to
modification and even rejection if there is overwhelming evidence that
disproves it and/or supports another, better theory. Therefore, a
theory is not an eternal or perpetual truth.
Characteristics of a Scientific
Theory
Although there are many characteristics of scientific
theories, there are five basic characteristics that can help one to understand
how they work. A scientific theory should be:
1.
Testable: Theories can be supported through
a series of scientific research projects
or experiments. Sometimes a theory is proven to be wrong through evidence:
this is called rejecting a theory. However, a theory can never be proven to be
absolutely true because it is an interpretation.
There is always a possibility that a different interpretation will someday be
found to be more correct.
2.
Replicable: In other words, theories must also
be able to be repeated by others. This means that enough information and data must be available in the theory so that
others can test the theory and get similar results.
3.
Stable: Another characteristic of theories
is that they must be stable. This means that when others test the theory, they
get the same results - so a theory
is valid as long as there is no evidence to dispute it.
4.
Simple: A theory should be simple. When it
is said, a scientific theory must be simple, that does not mean that the
concept must be basic. It means that only useful information should be
presented in the theory.
5.
Consistent: A theory should agree with other
theories, meaning that no principles in one theory should contradict another already accepted theory. However, some
differences may be evident because the new theory may provide additional
evidence.
Theories are used to advance scientific knowledge. Without
theories, information that is gathered in research studies could not be put to
use. New medications and treatments could not be tested, and no cures for
diseases would be found.
References:
·
Saravanavel P. (1999), “Research Methodology”, Kitab Mahal,
Allahabad, pp-75-77.
·
Swain, A.K.P.C (2008), “A text book of Research Methodology”,
Kalyani Publishers, NewDelhi, pp-
·
Tripathi P. C (1999), “A text book of Research Methodology in
Social Sciences”, Sultanchand & sons Educational Publishers, New Delhi, pp-14-15.
Web references
·
http://www.tectonicsdrivenbyclimvariation.com/-the-characteristics-of-a-good-theory-hypothesis.html
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