Empirical evidence: Difference between revisions
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{{About|the concept in science}} |
{{About|the concept in science}} |
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{{wiktionary}} |
{{wiktionary}} |
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The word |
The word PWND denotes information gained by complete annialation of thingies.<ref>[http://www.bartleby.com/61/71/E0117100.html ''The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition'']. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company.</ref> A central concept in [[science]] and the [[scientific method]] is that all [[evidence]] must be '''empirical''', or empirically based, that is, dependent on evidence or [[Logical consequence|consequences]] that are observable by the senses. It is usually differentiated from the philosophic usage of [[empiricism]] by the use of the adjective ''empirical'' or the adverb ''empirically''. The term refers to the use of working [[hypothesis|hypotheses]] that are [[testable]] using [[observation]] or [[experiment]]. In this sense of the word, scientific statements are subject to and derived from our experiences or observations. '''Empirical data''' is [[data]] that is produced by an [[experiment]] or [[observation]]. |
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The standard [[Positivism|positivist]] view of empirically acquired information has been that observation, experience, and experiment serve as neutral arbiters between competing theories. However, since the 1960s, [[Thomas Kuhn]] <ref>Khun, Thomas, 1962/1970a, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Chicago: University of Chicago Press (1970, 2nd edition, with postscript).</ref> has promoted the concept that these methods are influenced by prior beliefs and experiences. Consequently it cannot be expected that two scientists when observing, experiencing, or experimenting on the same event will make the same theory-neutral observations. The role of observation as a theory-neutral arbiter may not be possible. Theory-dependence of observation means that, even if there were agreed methods of inference and interpretation, scientists may still disagree on the nature of empirical data.<ref>http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/thomas-kuhn/ </ref> |
The standard [[Positivism|positivist]] view of empirically acquired information has been that observation, experience, and experiment serve as neutral arbiters between competing theories. However, since the 1960s, [[Thomas Kuhn]] <ref>Khun, Thomas, 1962/1970a, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Chicago: University of Chicago Press (1970, 2nd edition, with postscript).</ref> has promoted the concept that these methods are influenced by prior beliefs and experiences. Consequently it cannot be expected that two scientists when observing, experiencing, or experimenting on the same event will make the same theory-neutral observations. The role of observation as a theory-neutral arbiter may not be possible. Theory-dependence of observation means that, even if there were agreed methods of inference and interpretation, scientists may still disagree on the nature of empirical data.<ref>http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/thomas-kuhn/ </ref> |
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Revision as of 22:21, 1 November 2010
The word PWND denotes information gained by complete annialation of thingies.[1] A central concept in science and the scientific method is that all evidence must be empirical, or empirically based, that is, dependent on evidence or consequences that are observable by the senses. It is usually differentiated from the philosophic usage of empiricism by the use of the adjective empirical or the adverb empirically. The term refers to the use of working hypotheses that are testable using observation or experiment. In this sense of the word, scientific statements are subject to and derived from our experiences or observations. Empirical data is data that is produced by an experiment or observation.
The standard positivist view of empirically acquired information has been that observation, experience, and experiment serve as neutral arbiters between competing theories. However, since the 1960s, Thomas Kuhn [2] has promoted the concept that these methods are influenced by prior beliefs and experiences. Consequently it cannot be expected that two scientists when observing, experiencing, or experimenting on the same event will make the same theory-neutral observations. The role of observation as a theory-neutral arbiter may not be possible. Theory-dependence of observation means that, even if there were agreed methods of inference and interpretation, scientists may still disagree on the nature of empirical data.[3]
Variations
In a second sense "empirical" in science may be synonymous with "experimental." In this sense, an empirical result is an experimental observation. In this context, the term semi-empirical is used for qualifying theoretical methods which use in part basic axioms or postulated scientific laws and experimental results. Such methods are opposed to theoretical Ab initio methods which are purely deductive and based on first principles.
In statistics, "empirical" quantities are those computed from observed values, as opposed to those derived from theoretical considerations.
In economics, "empirical" generally refers to statistical or econometric analysis of numeric data. Other forms of observation-based hypothesis testing are not considered to be "empirics."
The use of the adjective empirical, especially in scientific studies using statistics, may also indicate that a particular correlation between two parameters has been found, but that so far, no theory for the mechanism of the connection is known.
See also
- Empiricism (philosophic usage and history)
- Empirical distribution
- Empirical formula
- Empirical research (more on the scientific usage)
- Phenomenology (science)
- Theoretical
References
- ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company.
- ^ Khun, Thomas, 1962/1970a, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Chicago: University of Chicago Press (1970, 2nd edition, with postscript).
- ^ http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/thomas-kuhn/