Fact (n): any observation that has been repeatedly confirmed and accepted as true; any scientific observation that has not been refuted
Scientists love their facts. Or should I say: as a scientist I love my facts. Facts make up the skeleton of science, the bone structure that we flesh out with hypotheses and ultimately theories. Facts mark the measured progression of science – from experiments to publication, to replication of experiments and new publications, until everyone is (mostly) satisfied that the result can be reproduced and can now become a fact.
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It is so hard to help students who are fact-oriented see the ambiguity in some historical areas I teach!
Sometimes I think it's because they just want an A, and ambiguity messes with their ability to achieve one…
So true. It's easier to regurgitate info than it is to actually synthesize ideas and put together original thoughts.