Falsifiability, publication, peer review.

Question 1

Karl popper: What were the conclusions/reformulations he related to falsifiability? - Short (summary) vs long answer (7 arguments).

Answer 1

Short: The criterion of the scientific status of a theory is its falsifiability, or refutability, or testability.

Long:
1. It is easy to obrain confirmation, or verification, for nearly every theori - if we look for confirmation.

2. Confirmation should count only if they are the result of risky predictions.
3. Every “good” scientific theory is prohibition: it forbids certain things to happen. The more a theory forbids, the better it is.
4. A theory which is not refuatable by any conceivable event is non-scientific.
5. Every genuin test of a theory is an attemt to falsify it, or to refuse it. Testability is falsifiability; The testability varies across thories.
6. Confirming evidence should not count except when it is the resault of a genuine test of the theory.
7. Some genuinely testaable theories, when found false, are still upheld by their admirers. (sometimes even re-interpreted in a different way to escape refutation.)

Question 2

What is the “problem of demarcation”?

Answer 2

It is the question of how to distinguish between science, and non-science. It examines the lines between science, pseudoscience, and other products of human activity, like art and literature, and beliefs.

Question 3

What does scientists most often mean by a “solvable problem”?

Answer 3

That the theory is testable.

Question 4

How do a scientist make sure they are dealing with a testable theory?

Answer 4

By ensuring that their theory are falsible.

Question 5

What does the falsifiability criterion state about theories?

Answer 5

For a theory to be useful, the predictions drawn from it must be specific. - telling us what should happen, and what not.

Question 6

If something unpredictable happens within a theory what might that indicate?

Answer 6

It might indicate that something is wrong with the theory, maybe something need to be modified or we need to look for an entirely new theory. (We shall end up with a theory that is nearer to the truth.)

Question 7

Explain what a scientific theory is?

Answer 7

An interrelated set of concepts that is used to explain a body of data and to make predictions about the results of future experiments.

Question 8

What is hypotheses?

Answer 8

Specific preditions that are derived from theories.

Question 9

Describe the difference between layperson’s and scientist’s use of the term theory?

Answer 9

Layperson’s often refer to a theory as mere guesses, unverified hypothesis or hunches.

Scientist’s refer to a conceptual structure that is supported by a large and varied set of data.

Question 10

What is separating a good vs a bad theory when it come to falsification?

Answer 10

Good thories makes prediction that expose themselves to falsification.

Bad thories do not put themselves in jeopardy, makin predictions that are so general that thay are almost bound to be true.

Question 11

Why is it important to leave a window for progress in a theory, and how do you leave the possibility for progress open?

Answer 11

Progress is important because it gives the theory room to grow (learn new things about the deep hidden truth.)

Progress occurs only when a theory does not predict EVERYTHING, but instead makes specific predictions that tell us in advance something specific about the world.

Question 12

Why is all confirmation not equal?

Answer 12

Theories that recieve confirmation from highly falsifiable, highly specific predictions are to be prefeered. even when predictions are not confirmed. Because we must look not only at the quantity of the confirming evidence, but also the quality of the confirmation. Meaning that science is a mechanism for continually challenging previous held beliefs.

Question 13

What is the research community’s system for assessing the quality of
research before it is published called?.

Answer 13

The system is called peer review.

Question 14

What is needed for a peer review?

Answer 14

Researchers write up their methods, findings and conclusions as an article or research paper, which is peer reviewed before being published in a journal.

Question 15

What does peer review mean?

Answer 15

Peer review means that other scientific experts in the field check research papers for validity, significance and originality – and for clarity.

Question 16

All research claims found throughtout magazines and newspappers and various media has gone through peer review before being published? - True or false?

Answer 16

False. Many of the research claims you read in newspapers and magazines, find on the Internet, or hear on television and the radio are NOT published in peer reviewed journals and therefore have not been
checked by other researchers in the field

Question 17

If it is peer reviewed, what extended information can you find about the research?

Answer 17

If it is peer reviewed, you can look for more information on what other
researchers say about it, the size and approach of the study and whether
it is part of a body of evidence pointing towards the same conclusions.

Question 18

What should you ask for in the peer review process?

Answer 18

• Comment on its validity.
• Judge the significance.
• Determine its originality.
• Opinion on wether to publish, improve, reject.