Falsifiable

Definition

Falsifiable means that a hypothesis or theory can be proven false through observation or experiment. It is a key criterion for scientific hypotheses, distinguishing them from non-scientific claims.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. A hypothesis must be falsifiable to be considered scientifically valid.
2. Falsifiability allows for hypotheses to be tested and potentially disproven by empirical evidence.
3. Karl Popper, a philosopher of science, popularized the concept of falsifiability.
4. Not all scientific statements are falsifiable; some are descriptive or observational.
5. Falsifiability does not mean a hypothesis is false, but that it can be tested in such a way that it could be shown to be false.

Review Questions

Related terms

Hypothesis: A proposed explanation for a phenomenon that can be tested through experimentation.

Empirical Evidence: Information acquired by observation or experimentation that scientists use to support or refute hypotheses.

Scientific Method: A systematic process for conducting experiments and analyzing data to answer questions and test hypotheses.