Hypothesis is a limited statement regarding the cause and effect in a specific situation, which can be tested by experimentation and observation or by statistical analysis of the probabilities from the data obtained. A useful hypothesis enables predictions by applying deductive reasoning, often in the form of mathematical analysis.
Model
Used when it is known that the hypothesis has a limitation on its validity
- Idealized models are used to get an initial grasp on analyzing complex situations
- Bohr model of the atom, for example, depicts electrons circling the atomic nucleus in a fashion similar to planets in the solar system
- This model is useful in determining the energies of the quantum states of the electron in the simple hydrogen atom, but it is by no means an exact representation of the true nature of an atom
Occam’s Razor
The most simple explanation that fits the available data is the one which is preferable
- Occam’s Razor does not prove that the simpler hypothesis is indeed the true explanation of how nature behaves
- However, it is generally the case that when a more complex system is at work there is some element of the evidence which doesn’t fit the simpler hypotheses
Theory and Law
A scientific theory or law is a hypothesis that has been confirmed through repeated testing
- It is often invoked in reference to a specific mathematical equation that relates the different elements within a theory
- Many previous “laws of nature” were found to be just guidelines that work within certain parameters but not others
Scientific Paradigms
Once a scientific theory is established, it is very hard to get the scientific community to discard it
- One consequence of the scientific method is to try to maintain consistency in the inquiry when these revolutions occur and to avoid attempts to overthrow existing paradigms on ideological grounds
