How do scientists come up with theories?

Answer 1

A few different ways...they start off with a hypothesis...and then they try to find out if it can be worked...for example...people used to think the sun revolved around the earth...then Gallileo though...which was his theory that no...the earth must revolve around the sun...then he came up with a few hypothesis's and tested them. A theory is just an idea that could explain things...then they test em. That simple.

Answer 2

Scientific inspiration comes from several sources. First and foremost is empirical observation. A scientist might observe an unexpected side effect in an experiment or try a procedure that works particularly well.

A hypothesis, or prediction, is made based on the observation: If the side effect happened in case X, then I predict it will also happen in related cases Y and Z, for example. The hypothesis must then be tested to see if experimental evidence will support it, and the scientific method is off and running.

Another source of scientific inspiration is what those of us in the trade call "the literature." The literature is the collective knowledge base of the scientific community, commonly published in peer-reviewed journals and patents. Most scientists, and certainly anyone with a graduate degree, keep themselves up-to-date on the latest research by reading a variety of these peer-reviewed journals, in which other scientists publish their research. It's not unusual for other people's research to spark questions about the scope of the project, or if the methods used in it can be successfully applied to an unrelated experiment or system.

It is more common for research projects to build on each other. For example, a biologist or physician might figure out that high levels of a certain protein are observed in patients with a particular kind of cancer. That might lead a microbiologist to isolate the protein and identify its structure. A biochemist might then examine the structure and do some studies to propose and verify the mechanism by which this protein affects cancerous activity within a cell. After the mechanism is understood, an organic chemist might design and synthesize a potential new drug that can stop the protein from advancing the cancer's progress. Finally, the proverbial ball gets passed back to the physician for clinical trials and eventual approval and use of the new medicine. Rinse and repeat.

Finally, scientists tend to be inherently curious. We look at the world and wonder how it all works. Sometimes, we don't need a triggering event to get us started on a research project; we just wonder how something works and then set out to find the answer. We are an inquisitive bunch, which is why many of us go into science in the first place.

Hope this answers your question!

Answer 3

The scientific method, which is a step by step procedure followed by scientist in any field.
1. Hypothesis - a question that the scientist wants answered. Example: "do all Y!A participants have a low IQ?"
2. research previous studies on the topic
3. set up experiments, surveys, studies, etc adhering to strict scientific procedures.
4. complete the work described above
5. review and analyze the results.
6 write a conclusion AKA theory

Answer 4

Through the scientific method,
They come up with a hypothesis and decide on a way to prove they are correct. They then perform the test and experiments that need to be done. Afterward they re-test to see if they can reproduce the results. If they prove their hypothesis, they share their results with the scientific community. If the rest of the world agrees with the scientists they have produced a theory.

Answer 5

Theory is the formulation of a sound question based on the knowledge of relevant subject.

ie you can't come up with a theory of a subject you don't know anything about. Once you come up with a question, what is left is to test it. If it worked, it does not mean it is correct- it has to be reproducible by others.

Many theories are difficult to test. for example, Einstein conducted famous thought experiment that did make sense only to few people, only later it was proved be others

Answer 6

1. They think of a question....
2. They think of the most silliest answer....
3. They get other peoples opinions....
4. They make it sound good....

Hey presto.... A theory.

And if it can be proven using other 'theories', even better. Nothing seems to make much sense anyway.

Answer 7

observation -> questioning->hypothesis-> experimentation->conclusion

Answer 8

think, tried an tested

Answer 9

some of them sit and think about it for a long time, and others just BS.

Answer 10

Think about it?