Important for a Scientific Theory

Question: Is testability important for a scientific theory? Answer: Analysis Any scientific or non-scientific theory has to be based on certain hypothesis. Generally, hypothesis is the proposed explanation for any action or phenomenon. Once the hypothesis is established, researcher would perform the research work to uphold or refute the hypothesis. This hypothesis is often called as null hypothesis. The testability is required to decide upon the result of null hypothesis. The criterion of the scientific status of a theory is its falsifiability, refutability, or testability (Gallopin, 2006). Therefore, it can be said that testability is important for scientific theory. Without testability, it would be difficult to differentiate between scientific theory and nonscientific theory as the very basis of any scientific theory is falsification. In most of the scientific researches, the objective of researcher is to negate the Null hypothesis. In fact, the Null hypothesis is established in a manner that it can be refuted. Typically, Null hypothesis would make any clai m and the objective of the research work would be to find the validity of these claims. As a part of validating the claims, it is important to test the theory (Ellisman, 2007). In fact if a scientific theory were not tested then there would not be any science in it. The theory would be just like pseudo-scientific theory. While performing any research, researchers should always keep in mind the characteristics of scientific research. These characteristics include, operational stable definition, reliable measurements, control conditions, replicability etc. It is important that researcher should be able to understand the difference between scientific and pseudo-scientific research. It is also important that researcher should implement these differences while conducting the research (Campiteli, 2006). The sample population and targeted audience should also be made aware about the difference in scientific and pseudo-scientific research, as there exists difference in research methods. One of important characteristics of any research work is generalizability and it can be said that testing would help to achieve generalizability. Without testability, it would be very difficult to make the result of research generalized. It is important that researcher involved in the scientific research should be able to demarcate their research methods and research work with researcher involved in pseudo-scientific research. There also exists difference in the way testability is done for scientific research project and pseudo-scientific research projects. It can be said that the testability of scientific theory is more systematic in nature. In case of any scientific research, researcher should follow the timeline and research objective. The research methodology would also differ between scientific research and pseudo-scientific research (Bainbridge, 2007). The objective of testing or establishing the testability would be to reach a conclusion about the Null hypothesis. Without test ability, researcher would find it difficult to reach on any conclusion. Therefore, it can be said that testability is important for a scientific theory. References Bainbridge, W. S. (2007). The scientific research potential of virtual worlds.science,317(5837), 472-476. Batista, P. D., Campiteli, M. G., Kinouchi, O. (2006). Is it possible to compare researchers with different scientific interests?.Scientometrics,68(1), 179-189. Denzin, N. K., Lincoln, Y. S. (2009). Qualitative research.Yogyakarta: PustakaPelajar. Gil, Y., Deelman, E., Ellisman, M., Fahringer, T., Fox, G., Gannon, D., ... Myers, J. (2007). Examining the challenges of scientific workflows.Ieee computer,40(12), 26-34. Young, O. R., Berkhout, F., Gallopin, G. C., Janssen, M. A., Ostrom, E., van der Leeuw, S. (2006). The globalization of socio-ecological systems: an agenda for scientific research.Global Environmental Change,16(3), 304-316.