In the article strong inference, john platt 1964 clearly described the classic analytic method of science, first attributed to bacon 1620. Platt scientists these days tend to keep up a polite fiction that all science is equal. The first page of the pdf of this article appears above. John platts article strong inference 1964 suggested a general and effective method of scientific investigation. He called attention to the rapid progress being made in some scientific fields, such as nuclear physics and molecular biology, and he explored the reasons why these areas moved so rapidly, while others languished as unexciting fields of investigation. Platt strong inference 2 in its separate elements, strong inference is just the simple and oldfashioned method of inductive inference that goes back to francis bacon. D is c e r n in g p u n c tu a tio n w a s e s p e c ia lly d. Reading strategies inference introduction2 inference lesson 111 purpose. The weaknesses of strong inference william odonohue jeffrey a. Except for the work of the mis guided opponent whose arguments we happen to be refuting at the time, we. Inductive inference logical tree multiple hypothesis strong inference crucial experiment.
It describes a disciplined strategy of falsification of multiple, clearly formulated hypotheses that is used more regularly in some scientific fields than in others. These rapidly moving fields where a particular doing scientific research is scientists these days tend to keep up a. When i first read platts strong inference paper as a graduate student, i was familiar with the hypotheticodeductive method, but platt was the first to reveal to me how it really worked, and i suspect this is true for many of his readers. Platt and strong inference i will mention one severe but useful private test a touchstone of strong inference that removes the necessity for thirdperson criticism, because it is a test that anyone can learn to carry with him for use as needed. Platt, who coined the term strong inference, thinks its a method of systematic scientific thinking platt, 1964. Scientists these days tend to keep up a polite fiction that all science is equal. These rapidly moving fields where a particular doing scientific research is scientists these days tend to keep up a polite fiction that all science is equal. Strong inference is the method of testing a hypothesis by deliberately attempting to demonstrate the falsity of the hypothesis. Aug 22, 2019 strong inference was proposed by platt in a 1964 essay to be the reason behind certain scientific fields experiencing rapid progression while others stagnate. Strong inference platt, 1964 16 october 1964 volume.
For other people named john platt, see john platt john rader platt june 29, 1918 in jacksonville, florida june 17, 1992 in boston was an american physicist and biophysicist, professor at the university of chicago, noted for his pioneering work on strong inference in the 1960s and his analysis of social science in the 1970s. Strong inference was proposed by platt in a 1964 essay to be the reason behind certain scientific fields experiencing rapid progression while others stagnate. So if ecologists could do more strong inference, why dont they. Strong inference biology 1510 biological principles. Nov 02, 2007 the platt paper as a starting point for the journal club a very brief summary of the platt paper. Except for the work of the misguided opponent whose arguments we happen to be. Platt explained that strong inference can only work if we assume that the universe is a. What is the first step in strong inference according to platt p 347. In other words, platt did not entirely succeed in establishing strong inference as the standard operating procedure for science. John rader platt june 29, 1918 in jacksonville, florida june 17, 1992 in boston was an american physicist and biophysicist, professor at the university of chicago, noted for his pioneering work on strong inference in the 1960s and his analysis of social science in the 1970s. In its separate elements, strong inference is just the simple and oldfashioned method of inductive inference that goes back to francis bacon. Jun 01, 2016 my point isnt that strong inference is the infallible recipe for progress platt made it out to beits not. The weaknesses of strong inference university of arizona.
Frontiers strong inference in mathematical modeling. Platt 1964 is required reading for students enrolled in this course, and is available on the course canvas site link above requires you are logged in by proxy to the gt library. Strong inference biology 1511 biological principles. But the notion that ecology is somehow not amenable to strong inference is just false. Platt 1964 formalized this approach as strong inference and argued that it was the best way for science to progress rapidly. Failure to address the putative etiologic and pathophysiologic heterogeneity of the schizophrenia syndrome and problems in definitive assessment of human brain function have impaired progress in schizophrenia research. Except for the work of the misguided opponent whose arguments we happen to be refuting at the time, we speak as. Platt 1964 is required reading for students enrolled in this course, and is available on the course canvas site link above requires you are logged in. What is kinraide and denisons definition of strong inference p. Using strong inference to answer causal questions in spinal. But if i do an ecological study of what is controlling the number of deer. Jul 24, 20 platt, who coined the term strong inference, thinks its a method of systematic scientific thinking platt, 1964. His extensive background in biophysics qualified him uniquely for this task. Strong inference platt, 1964 16 october 1964 volume 146.
Strong inference and the method of multiple working hypotheses. Volume 146, number 3642 cience strong inference certain systematic methods of scientific thinking may produce much more rapid progress than others. If this is the case and some do not agree that this approach is suitable for ecology then we might use this model to check now and then on the state of ecology via published papers. The authors describe the modern method of hypothesis testing by borrowing the term strong inference from john r. In the paper, strong inference, john platt examines inductive reasoning as an essential tool in the practice of science, the systematic application of which is necessary for an effective scientific approach. Platt s article, strong inference, outlined a method of multiple working hypotheses that. Except for the work of the misguided opponent whose arguments we happen to be refuting at the time, we speak as though every scientists field and methods of study are as good as. Strong inference certain systematic methods of scientific thinking mayproduce muchmore rapid progress than others. Except for the work of the nlis guided opponent whose arguments we. Except for the work of the mis guided opponent whose arguments we happen to. D is c e r n in g p u n c tu a tio n w a s e s p e c ia. Platt s 1964 essay on strong inference 1 illuminates a rational approach to scientific inquiry that integrates seamlessly with current investigations on the operation of complex biological systems. What is kinraide and denisons definition of a hypothesisp.
Interesting reads prahlad lab college of liberal arts. Decisive test tells us dna is the genetic material. John platt s article strong inference 1964 suggested a general and effective method of scientific investigation. Except for the work of the misguided opponent whose arguments we happen to be refuting at the time, we speak as though every scientists field and methods of study are as good as every other scientists, and perhaps a little better.
Platt 1 scientists these days tend to keep up a polite fiction that all science is equal. The difference comes in their systematic application. New approaches to psychopathology and converging evidence from antemortem and. Fields1, yunwei dong2, xianliang meng3 and george n. Platts article, strong inference, outlined a method of multiple working hypotheses that.
Platt suggests that a fourstep method of specifying hypotheses and conducting critical experiments that systematically eliminate alteratives has been responsible for progress in the history of. Introduce inference as a powerful strategy for creating deeper meaning and enriching the. Platts 1964 essay on strong inference 1 illuminates a rational approach to scientific inquiry that integrates seamlessly with current investigations on the operation of complex biological systems. A discussion on the paper strong inference by platt. In philosophy of science, strong inference is a model of scientific inquiry that emphasizes the need for alternative hypotheses, rather than a single hypothesis to avoid confirmation bias. Strong inference for systems biology pubmed central pmc.
Strong inference certain systematic methods of scientific thinking may produce much more rapid progress than others. Strong inference, theory testing, and the neuroanatomy of. Here, we argue that if the sickness that platt identified remains, we can still move toward a cure by adopting, and perhaps recalibrating, strong inference for application in systems biology. Except for the work of the misguided opponent whose arguments we happen to be refuting at the time, we speak as though every scientist. Strong inference was proposed over 50 years ago to promote rapid science platt, 1964. The platt paper as a starting point for the journal club a very brief summary of the platt paper. Platt notes that some fields, such as molecular biology and highenergy physics, seem to adhere strongly to strong inference, with very beneficial results for the rate of progress in those fields. The career of birdwell finlayson was distinguished by his continual efforts at casting problems he encountered in urolithiasis in terms of relevant physical theory. The steps are familiar to every college student and are practiced, off and on, by every scientist. Using strong inference to answer causal questions in. Abstract john platts article strong inference 1964 suggested a general and effective method of scientific investigation. In 1964, john platt published a lead article in the journal science entitled strong inference. Namely strong inference as discussed in platt is about mutually exclusive choices dna is the genetic material or proteins are. He employed a process called strong inference as much as possible.
This platt paper is required reading for students enrolled in biol 1510. Platt suggested that despite a commonly spread polite fiction that all science is equalsome areas of science progress faster than others platt, 1964. It is our old friend the baconian exclusion, but i. This article described a method of scientific inquiry that was purported to be the. Certain systematic methods of scientific thinking may produce much more rapid progress than others.