Introducing a page on Scientific Objectivity

Scientific Objectivity

There exists a common misconception that scientists are totally objective but this is nothing but a myth and one that is easily busted. Not only are scientists human and subject to all human flaws but ones philosophical assumptions will always influence conclusions no mater how objective you try to be. Furthermore knowing something about the topic will inevitably cause a person to form opinions about that topic.

The Facts About Repeatability in Science

Repeatability is the ability of a scientist’s experiments and results to be replicated by other scientists. The concept is that because physical laws are the same every place an experiment conducted by one scientist should work for any other scientist it is a way of double checking results. Repeatability is not to be confused with replicating passed events which is done to show the possibility or feasibility of that event which is a totally different from the repeatability being discussed.

Repeatability is at its best with experiments were variables can be controlled and hence replication can be as complete as possible. It does not work well for all situations. Those situations where there are difficulties in controlling variables are not easily replicated. The degree of repeatability varies from field to field.

In conclusion repeatability is important to science but it is not an absolute principle and some fields are more repeatable than others.