Re: physical pendulums/ an opportunity

[Ken Fox <kfox@STEGA.SMOKY.ORG>]

On Thu, 23 Sep 1999, Leigh Palmer wrote:

> > Why does one need a hypothesis?
> >
> > to help define a question.  defining the question helps the researcher to
> > design an experiment from which he can obtain meaningful results.
>
> Have you ever observed a phenomenon without forming a hypothesis?
> Are you so insensitive to the outside world that you have never
> said to yourself, on observing something interesting, "Now, why
> does that happen?" That is a well defined question. Much science
> is done (especially by astronomers who don't have the luxury of
> being able to adjust parameters) in just that way.
>
> Science is not exclusively hypothesis testing.
>
> Leigh

You are absolutely right that the observations that make us ask " Why
does that happen?" are at the heart of all learning, not just science.
Once we think we know why it happens, what do we do next? Make an informed
"explanation". Then what do we do to be sure we understand? Test our
"explanation"! At least that is the way I operate. Astronomers, I believe,
are looking for both questions and answers. They create models that help
them look for answers. Is that not hypothesis making?


Ken Fox