What is a theory?

Answer 1

In common usage, people often use the word theory to signify a conjecture, an opinion, or a speculation.
In science, a theory is a mathematical description, a logical explanation, a verified hypothesis, or a proven model of the manner of interaction of a set of natural phenomena, capable of predicting future occurrences or observations of the same kind, and capable of being tested through experiment or otherwise falsified through empirical observation. It follows from this that for scientists "theory" and "fact" do not necessarily stand in opposition.

Answer 2

To quote Gould:
"facts and theories are different things, not rungs in a hierarchy of increasing certainty. Facts are the world's data. Theories are structures of ideas that explain and interpret facts. Facts don't go away when scientists debate rival theories to explain them. Einstein's theory of gravitation replaced Newton's in this century, but apples didn't suspend themselves in midair, pending the outcome"

Answer 3

It's an idea about how certain concepts relate to each other. One uses scientific methodologies to either confirm or refute the theory.

Answer 4

A theory is cool.

Answer 5

A theory is something that you come up with after you have formed a hypothesis and tested it , revised the hypothesis again, tested it again, revise, test, revise , test..and so on and so forth.. and when your tests finally and consistantly agree with your hypothesis you have a theory.

Answer 6

A theory is a well-formed hypothesis with strong evidence behind it, but it still can't be proved true. (Ex.- the Big Bang etc.)

Answer 7

A generalized assumption accepted to be true until proven false.

Answer 8

It is more than a hypothesis and less than a law.

Answer 9

It is an idea that has yet to be been proven as fact!

Answer 10

an idea that can't be proven