success
hypothesis: reasonable given current knowledge
prediction: if this then that
plan: test hypothesis using control and variables, recording data at regular intervals
results: data describe predicted outcome
conclusion: hypothesis stands up – success!hypothesis: reasonable given current knowledge
prediction: if this then that
plan: test hypothesis using control and variables, recording data at regular intervals
results: data describe a different outcome than predicted
conclusion: hypothesis was wrong – success!
When a scientist is successful, knowledge is advanced. If the scientist has had a breakthrough and new theories are supported, it’s exciting. But it’s also very useful and important to disprove new theories, to continue to ask difficult questions and to let new information refute what was expected. This is (again) like the poem from yesterday, and the day before; the knowledge gained on the way to insight is just as important as the final result. Sometimes, perhaps, more so.