THEORY: A scientifically verified, interrelated body of general principles, axioms, and assumptions that is used to explain and understand real world phenomena. Theories are the cornerstone of the scientific method. They generate the hypotheses that are verified against real world data, which is the day-to-day process of doing science. The construction and refinement of theories, accomplished through the hypothesis verification process, is also the basic goal of doing science. See also | scientific method | phenomenon | hypothesis | principle | verification | axiom | world view | cause and effect | data | law of demand | economics | science | social science | physical science |
