Scientific theory: foundations and applications

Scientific Theory in Psychology

The core of science is the combination of reason and the search for the truth. Scientific truths are postulated, theorized, then proven or disproven with the purpose of achieving a greater understanding of the world in which we live. Relying exclusively on observable, measurable and quantifiable evidence, scientific theory is the building and testing of hypotheses. Thus, when we define science, we are defining the process by which we discover measurable the truths of our world, our lives, and our existence. Of course, nothing is as simple and complex in science as the process by which the truth of a thing is discovered. Scientific theories are either provable or disprovable predictions of how natural phenomena will occur given a particular set of variables and constants. Theory, then, is used to test for the existence of a constant and predictable occurrence - such as the theory that, all hindrances removed, an object that weighs more than air will fall to the ground when dropped. Often, theory can only be based upon conjecture or speculation - such as with much of psychological theory. Theories lead researchers to find evidence that either proves or disproves a theory. This evidence, then, is used in conjunction with an evaluation of the structure and foundation of the theory necessary to evaluation of the theory. Finally, as theory is applied to the field of psychology, it must be asserted that the science of psychology is the study of measurable behaviors as they are acted upon and influenced by cognitive, socio-cultural, genetic and biological forces.

Theories, both scientific and non-, have permeated every aspect of our existences. From theological theories about unmeasurable religious principles to theories predicting the behavior of rocks, the theory is an often misunderstood concept used by the layman to simply explain a level of individualistic thought about a particular topic. Scientific theory, however, has a very clear and concise structure and defining characteristics that make it so. A scientific theory is either right or wrong, true or false. Thus, the characteristics that make up a scientific theory are the structures and rules applied to the construction. First, there is the "point" - what is the theory trying to assert about the world? This point must be measurable and testable. A theory that cannot be tested is an inadequate theory. Second, there is the inherent understanding that theory not disproved today could quite possibly disproved tomorrow. Third, the theory must make predictions and be able to be proven false.

As theory requires evidence, the relationship between the two is exceptionally strong. Without evidence, theory is just a concept. Evidence, then, is what proves or disproves the theory. As such, theory then pre-supposes evidence that can be measured. A theory that cannot be measured by evidence is a pointless one. For example, if I posit the theory that leprechauns and pots of gold are at the ends of some rainbows, this theory cannot be disproven as the end of all rainbows throughout the world could not possibly be found and thus my theory cannot be challenged with evidence - but it cannot be proven either as no leprechauns would be found at the end of any rainbow. So, just as the concept of Right has to have Wrong as its counterpart to be a truth, so does theory need evidence. Science is a method of understanding, it is an understanding of what exists, what we can determine that we know about these things, and the method by which we go about achieving that understanding. Thus, without evidence on either side of the theory, there can be no support for the theory therefore making that theory non-scientific.