Scientific theory...

[MAX]

Gabe forced me to create this thread...which will be short I'm sure.

I want people to explain what a scientific theory is, in their own words, off the top of their heads. Don't google it. Don't use your college dictionary. Don't ask someone sitting next to you. Just quickly type the first thing that comes to your mind.

Go.


...except for Miggy...he lives in a tree.

[Kiron]

Hmm
a theroy that has scientific proof .
I would type more cant I cant spell the words.

[blue rogue]

In my opinion a theory is something that may have some scientific backing, but hasn't been proven as a law or truth.

[Smalldude76]

Esentially I believe a theory is something that has a little evidence or is a possibility but has yet to be confirmed 100% true like Ohm's law where voltage = resistance x current. We know that to be 100% true whereas other things are only an educated hypothesis on what really happened like the origin of AIDs.

[kurst]

A scientific theory is a theory (an idea, a reason why something occurs) that is well accepted among scientists though not considered a hard fact.

[bountyhunter]

a non-concrete conclusion heavily supported by observed and tested evidence.

[andre]

a theory is not a fact. i.e.--"Theory of Evolution" (with regards to man's existence on earth)

a theory cannot be firmly, 100% proved or disproved

[MAX]

Well.. I can't say I'm surprised by a couple of the posts, lol.

[andre]

It's a relative question, MAX, so you mentioned. What do you expect? Do you expect for me to say that a theory is not what it is, and to say that it's bona-fide information?

[MAX]

Asking the definition of a particular theory (scientific) is NOT relative..lol

That's like asking you to descrive an apple, and you describe an elephant and then say, "You asked what an apple looks like, it's relative!!"

[andre]

no, the way you posed the question made it subjective and relative to our experience.

I want people to explain what a scientific theory is, in their own words, off the top of their heads.

thank you.

[MAX]

I love when you try to be intellecutual. Anyway, my question was not at all relative. I asked people what they knew of scientific theory, which while it allows for individual perspectives, it also admits to there being an objective definition that provides the "correct" answer.

[andre]

then again, what source are you using for your definition? nearly every dictionary has its own definition or variation of a defintion on every word or phrase, and every word has a different meaning to people, even to those who have the God like grace to define what words or phrases are supposed to mean to us.

[Tortoise]

a non-concrete conclusion heavily supported by observed and tested evidence.
You, sir, have just received a win.

bountyhunter's right, you know. A scientific theory isn't just a "I think blahblahblah...", it works off of the scientific procedure. In other words, a hypothesis must first be formed--this is the thing many of you consider to be a theory--followed by testing. From the testing, conclusions may be drawn. After much repetition of this procedure under various conditions, a generally sturdy claim can be made. THAT is the theory :)

[Rensa]

Yep, bountyhunter FTW (I'm too lazy to type it out again myself). Starts off as a hypothesis, then is tested repeatedly (must be a true test, where the hypothesis predicts something and can be found incorrect, rather than the results of the test simply being interpreted in light of the hypothesis). Then you end up with a theory :)

Max, you did say not to use Google or to look it it up or whatever, so you were basically asking people what they thought a scientific theory is. Whether they're right or not is different story ^^

[MAX]

^^ I think that's a pretty uhm... absolute question. But obviously you're going to get different answers, because people are going to have different things at the top of their heads when they read the word "theory". Some are going to think of stupid things and other might think of a more correct definition.

I'll bet if you replaced the word "Scientific theory" with "Scientific explanation" you'd see dozens of people furiously backpedaling.

then again, what source are you using for your definition? nearly every dictionary has its own definition or variation of a defintion on every word or phrase, and every word has a different meaning to people, even to those who have the God like grace to define what words or phrases are supposed to mean to us.

What source...would you be surprised if I said EVERY SCIENCE RELATED CLASS I HAVE EVER TAKEN?
:doh:

lol

A scientific theory is a tested hypothesis that has been demonstrated to be inline with observation. A scientific theory must fit all the observed facts dealing with the phenomena, and it must account for all of them in its predictions. It must also, as a part of its predictive capacity, offer a testable explanation for the driving mechanisms behind that phenomenon.

[bountyhunter]

then again, what source are you using for your definition? nearly every dictionary has its own definition or variation of a defintion on every word or phrase, and every word has a different meaning to people, even to those who have the God like grace to define what words or phrases are supposed to mean to us.

"scientific theory" isn't an open ended combination that can be made up of any definitions of those two words put together.

[bountyhunter]

actually, instead of cheese I think he'd much rather have flesh of lord.

kthxby