Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Scientific Nature of Social Psychology01:30

Scientific Nature of Social Psychology

Social psychology is a scientific discipline dedicated to understanding how individuals think, feel, and behave in social contexts. Unlike common sense, which relies on anecdotal experiences and intuition, social psychology employs systematic research and empirical methods to ensure objectivity and reliability. This distinction is fundamental in distinguishing scientifically supported findings from mere speculation.Four fundamental scientific values guide a structured approach to research in...
The Scientific Method01:32

The Scientific Method

The scientific method is a detailed, empirical problem-solving process used by biologists and other scientists. This iterative approach involves formulating a question based on observation, developing a testable potential explanation for the observation (called a hypothesis), making and testing predictions based on the hypothesis, and using the findings to create new hypotheses and predictions.
Generally, predictions are tested using carefully-designed experiments. Based on the outcome of these...
The Scientific Method03:50

The Scientific Method

Chemistry is an empirical science. Scientists often pose questions to understand the chemistry in everyday life and seek answers to these questions. To achieve this, scientists follow a definitive series of steps that together make up the Scientific Method. This approach involves making observations, asking questions, building a hypothesis, conducting experiments, analyzing results, and forming a conclusion.
The Scientific Method02:40

The Scientific Method

Research is what makes the difference between facts and opinions. Facts are observable realities, and opinions are personal judgments, conclusions, or attitudes that may or may not be accurate. In the scientific community, facts can be established only using evidence collected through empirical research.
Psychology as a Science01:13

Psychology as a Science

Psychology, as a scientific discipline, aims to understand the mind and behavior through rigorous and systematic methods. The foundation of psychological research is evidence-based, relying heavily on the scientific method to derive and validate knowledge. This structured approach ensures that findings are reliable, valid, and applicable to broader contexts.
The scientific method in psychology involves six critical steps: making observations, formulating hypotheses, conducting tests, analyzing...
The Scientific Method in Nursing Process01:18

The Scientific Method in Nursing Process

The scientific method provides the foundation for any research. It is the most reliable and objective of all forms of gaining knowledge and guides in applying research-based evidence in practice and conducting future research.
When using research findings to change practice, one must understand the process used to guide a study. The scientific method is a systematic, step-by-step process that supports the data's validity, reliability, and generalizability. As a result, findings can be safely...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Biological diversity: How many species are there?

Nature·2018
Same author

Gene Frequency Clines in the Presence of Selection Opposed by Gene Flow.

The American naturalist·2018
Same author

PHYLOGENIES WITHOUT FOSSILS.

Evolution; international journal of organic evolution·2017
Same author

The price of complexity in financial networks.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2016
Same author

Tracking and forecasting ecosystem interactions in real time.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2016
Same author

Reply to Luo et al.: Robustness of causal effects of galactic cosmic rays on interannual variation in global temperature.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2015
Same journal

Correction to: 'Stokes settling and particle-laden plumes: implications for deep-sea mining and volcanic eruption plumes' (2020), by Mingotti et al.

Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences·2026
Same journal

A stable hothouse triggered by a tipping mechanism.

Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences·2026
Same journal

Beyond distance: quantifying point cloud dynamics with persistent homology and dynamic optimal transport.

Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences·2026
Same journal

Global stability of the Atlantic overturning circulation: edge state, long transients and boundary crisis under CO2 forcing.

Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences·2026
Same journal

Morse index classification and landscape of Kuramoto system for Hebbian-based binary pattern recognition.

Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences·2026
Same journal

Interpretable and equation-free response theory for complex systems.

Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 28, 2026

Evidence-based Knowledge Synthesis and Hypothesis Validation: Navigating Biomedical Knowledge Bases via Explainable AI and Agentic Systems
05:47

Evidence-based Knowledge Synthesis and Hypothesis Validation: Navigating Biomedical Knowledge Bases via Explainable AI and Agentic Systems

Published on: June 13, 2025

Science as organized scepticism.

Robert M May1

  • 1Zoology Department, Oxford University, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK. robert.may@zoo.ox.ac.uk

Philosophical Transactions. Series A, Mathematical, Physical, and Engineering Sciences
|November 2, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Science is organized skepticism, not certainty, evolving through evidence and questioning. Understanding this journey of contingent knowledge is crucial for science advice, policy, and public engagement.

More Related Videos

Making Record-efficiency SnS Solar Cells by Thermal Evaporation and Atomic Layer Deposition
14:01

Making Record-efficiency SnS Solar Cells by Thermal Evaporation and Atomic Layer Deposition

Published on: May 22, 2015

Caenorhabditis Sieve: A Low-tech Instrument and Methodology for Sorting Small Multicellular Organisms
04:39

Caenorhabditis Sieve: A Low-tech Instrument and Methodology for Sorting Small Multicellular Organisms

Published on: July 4, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 28, 2026

Evidence-based Knowledge Synthesis and Hypothesis Validation: Navigating Biomedical Knowledge Bases via Explainable AI and Agentic Systems
05:47

Evidence-based Knowledge Synthesis and Hypothesis Validation: Navigating Biomedical Knowledge Bases via Explainable AI and Agentic Systems

Published on: June 13, 2025

Making Record-efficiency SnS Solar Cells by Thermal Evaporation and Atomic Layer Deposition
14:01

Making Record-efficiency SnS Solar Cells by Thermal Evaporation and Atomic Layer Deposition

Published on: May 22, 2015

Caenorhabditis Sieve: A Low-tech Instrument and Methodology for Sorting Small Multicellular Organisms
04:39

Caenorhabditis Sieve: A Low-tech Instrument and Methodology for Sorting Small Multicellular Organisms

Published on: July 4, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Philosophy of Science
  • Scientific Methodology

Background:

  • The Enlightenment shifted scientific understanding from authority to empirical evidence.
  • Science is frequently misconstrued as absolute certainty rather than a process.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To reframe science as organized skepticism.
  • To explore challenges in science communication and policy due to the perception of scientific certainty.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis of the nature of scientific inquiry.
  • Discussion of the implications of scientific uncertainty.

Main Results:

  • Science progresses through experimental tests and skeptical questioning, leading to contingent understanding.
  • Uncertainties inherent in the scientific process pose challenges.

Conclusions:

  • Viewing science as organized skepticism provides a more accurate framework.
  • Addressing uncertainties is key for effective science advice, policy-making, and public engagement.