[Black Swan]

Originally Posted by Richie15

In scientific terms, a statement is a hypothesis until it's proven beyond a reasonable doubt...

When commenting upon something that is to be informed by the scientific method, I would be very careful in using the words proof, "proven," or "disprove." Results emerging from the application of this method may or may not "suggest" support for the research hypothesis, and do not prove or disprove anything.

Further, when hypothesis testing, by convention we do not test the research hypothesis, rather the null. And if the results are significant, we reject the null, with such results suggesting support for the research hypothesis. If the results are insignificant, then we accept the null, and find that the research hypothesis was not supported; i.e., we would not use the terms "disprove" or disproven when referring to the lack of support.

Furthermore, as pertains to the results of the scientific method, there is always some measure of "reasonable doubt." For example, some reasonable doubt can be attributed to error in measurement, systematic error, etc., consequently we attempt to measure the probability of this error, as well as to estimate the confidence levels (and confidence intervals in certain types of research), essentially to give us more confidence in what the results suggest.

There are other sources of "reasonable doubt" when applying the scientific method. It is difficult to test theory directly, but we do operationalise theoretical concepts into measurable variables, stating the assumed relationships between variables in research hypotheses, before testing them in the null form. In addition to the problems associated with error mentioned earlier, we always struggle with attempting to identify all the necessary conditions that may be sufficient to suggesting a cause-and-effect relationship. Once again, we never prove or disprove, rather such tests may support or not support the hypothesis, suggesting some result.

[Richie15]

Ehm... Yeh, that's what I meant!

Anyway, do you agree with my main point (that there's a difference between scientific and colloquial use of the word)?

[Black Swan]

Originally Posted by Richie15

Anyway, do you agree with my main point (that there's a difference between scientific and colloquial use of the word)?

Certainly unscientific common talk between persons occurs with some liberty of expression as pertains to their discussions of theories, associated hypotheses, and the use of terms such as proof and disproof.

Advertisers sometimes take unfortunate liberties with such terms as proven and disproven. Heard one the other day on the telly: "Numerous clinical studies have proven that... (a brand name mattress improves sleep)," when clinical studies informed by the scientific method never prove anything.

It should also be noted that disciplines outside of those strictly informed by the scientific method and its conventions may use the "proof" term appropriate to their disciplines; e.g., legal proof, mathematical proof, etc.