underdetermination

Categories: Site glossary

Scientific theories and laws are always undetermined by the available data: that is, there is never sufficient data to be absolutely saw that the scientific account always applies just as we think. New data can lead to changes in established scientific ideas (such as the now discredited idea that information only moves one way from D.N.A. to R.N.A. to protein).

Author: Keith

Former school and college science teacher, teacher educator, research supervisor, and research methods lecturer. Emeritus Professor of Science Education at the University of Cambridge.