What does tentative mean in science

Creativity in research design: Creativity and imagination in science Research design. Different scientists can interpret the same datasets differently. How can this be so? Scientists do strive to be objective, but it is just not possible to make truly objective observations and interpretations without any bias. Individual scientists have their prior knowledge, theoretical beliefs, experiences, cultural background, training, expectations and biases, each of which will affect their observations and conclusions.

All observation is preceded by theory and conceptual knowledge. Many of the teaching and learning activities could be used to demonstrate to students how much prior knowledge they bring to any science investigation. How students bring prior knowledge to any science investigation: Conservation ranking in action The great candle experiment.

All scientific knowledge is produced within a larger society and culture. This means that the social and cultural elements such as politics, economics, power structures, religion and philosophy will affect the science knowledge produced and how it is accepted.

This also means that the direction and the products of science will be greatly influenced by the society and the culture in which the science is conducted. As societies change, so do scientific priorities.

For example, during the first half of the 20th century, two World Wars dominated society and so governments made funding available for research with wartime applications. Science moved in that direction and nuclear energy was unlocked.

Of or pertaining to a trial or trials; essaying ; experimental. Indicating timidity, hesitancy, or uncertainty. Made, done, proposed, etc. Tentative plans, a tentative explanation. A trial ; an experiment. Britannica English: Translation of tentative for Arabic Speakers.

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! Log in Sign Up. Save Word. Essential Meaning of tentative. Full Definition of tentative Entry 1 of 2. Definition of tentative Entry 2 of 2. Examples of tentative in a Sentence Adjective In the winter, retirees from the Midwest fill the trailer parks. They are known with tentative affection as snowbirds. Lapham , Harper's , July There was a crying need, in the tentative early days of populist toryism, for a voice that could bring the gospel to the lumpen.

UC Berkeley. Science is always a work in progress, and its conclusions are always tentative. Scientific conclusions are well founded in their factual content and thinking and are tentative only in the sense that all ideas are open to scrutiny. In science, the tentativeness of ideas such as the nature of atoms, cells, stars or the history of the Earth refers to the willingness of scientists to modify their ideas as new evidence appears.

Scientific ideas are subject to scrutiny from near and far, but nobody ever takes a vote.