Physics/D'Amato 2008
Steps of scientific reasoning
1. We see something interesting, or at least puzzling
2. We start by devising many possible explanations for
what we see
3. Next, we try to think of experiments that could
disprove each explanation
4. Each explanation makes a prediction about what the
experiment will show
5. Note the result of the experiment
6a. If the result of the experiment matches the prediction,
the explanation may be correct
6b. If the result of the experiment does not match the
prediction, the explanation is disproved
7. The results of one experiment sometimes suggest a
new experiment
8. The explanation that cannot be disproved is most
likely to be accepted
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Example 1 Example 2
Chris has 17 TV's in his house
Chris is a TV collector, Chris is a TV thief, they are used for surveillance, etc
To test whether Chris is a TV thief, we will look for To test whether Chris really loves to watch TV, we will
receipts for the TV's see if each TV is connected to cable or a video device
If Chris loves to watch TV, each TV will be connected
If Chris is a thief, there will be no receipts for the 17 TVs
and show a picture
Some of the TV's are off, some show static, and some
When we look for receipts, we find none
show a video game screen
Chris may be a thief -- or he may have lost the receipts.
(The result does not match the prediction)
The explanation is not disproved.
The result does not match the prediction -- this
(This experiment does not disprove this explanation)
explanation is disproved.
Maybe we could send the serial numbers to the
Maybe he plays lots of games with his friends. Are
manufacturer and see if Chris sent in the warranty
there video game consoles connected to all the TV's?
registration card? If he did, he's not a thief.
Chris definitely does not have 17 tv's because he loves
So far, we have not disproved this explanation
to watch TV. This explanation is disproved.