“I want to pause here and talk about this notion of consensus, and the rise of what has been called consensus science. I regard consensus science as an extremely pernicious development that ought to be stopped cold in its tracks. Historically, the claim of consensus has been the first refuge of scoundrels; it is a way to avoid debate by claiming that the matter is already settled. Whenever you hear the consensus of scientists agrees on something or other, reach for your wallet, because you’re being had.
Let’s be clear: the work of science has nothing whatever to do with consensus. Consensus is the business of politics. Science, on the contrary, requires only one investigator who happens to be right, which means that he or she has results that are verifiable by reference to the real world. In science consensus is irrelevant. What is relevant is reproducible results. The greatest scientists in history are great precisely because they broke with the consensus.
There is no such thing as consensus science. If it’s consensus, it isn’t science. If it’s science, it isn’t consensus. Period.”
Michael Crichton
What is the scientific method?
The scientific method is a process for experimentation that is used to explore observations and answer questions. It is a systematic way to gather evidence and draw conclusions about the natural world. The scientific method is based on the idea that all natural phenomena are caused by physical or chemical processes, and that these processes can be understood through observation and experimentation.
The scientific method typically involves the following steps:
- Ask a question. This is the first step in any scientific investigation. It is important to ask a clear and concise question that can be answered through experimentation.
- Do your research. Once you have asked a question, it is important to research what is already known about the topic. This will help you to develop a hypothesis and to design an experiment.
- Form a hypothesis. A hypothesis is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon. It is important to make a hypothesis that is specific and testable.
- Design an experiment. An experiment is a test of a hypothesis. It is important to design an experiment that is fair and controlled.
- Collect data. Data is the information that is collected during an experiment. It is important to collect data carefully and accurately.
- Analyze the data. Once the data has been collected, it needs to be analyzed to determine whether or not it supports the hypothesis.
- Draw a conclusion. Based on the analysis of the data, the scientist can draw a conclusion about whether or not the hypothesis is supported. If the hypothesis is supported, the scientist can accept it as a tentative explanation for the phenomenon. If the hypothesis is not supported, the scientist can reject it and develop a new hypothesis.
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s … a tool
The scientific method is a powerful tool for learning about the natural world. It is used by scientists in all fields, including biology, chemistry, physics, and geology. The scientific method has helped us to understand many of the fundamental processes of the universe, and it continues to be used to make new discoveries every day.
Here are some examples of the scientific method in action:
- A scientist wants to know if a new drug is effective in treating a certain disease. They design an experiment in which one group of patients is given the new drug and another group is given a placebo. The scientist then compares the results of the two groups to see if the new drug is effective.
- A biologist wants to know how different plants respond to different amounts of water. They design an experiment in which they grow plants in different conditions and then measure the growth of the plants. The biologist then analyzes the data to see how the amount of water affects the growth of the plants.
- A chemist wants to know how a certain chemical reacts with another chemical. They design an experiment in which they mix the two chemicals together and then observe the reaction. The chemist then analyzes the results of the experiment to see how the two chemicals react.
The scientific method is an essential part of the scientific process. It is a systematic way to gather evidence and draw conclusions about the natural world. The scientific method has helped us to understand many of the fundamental processes of the universe, and it continues to be used to make new discoveries every day.
Sources
The Method
