Scientific consensus
Scientific Consensus
Scientific consensus (pronunciation: /ˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk kənˈsɛnsəs/) is a collective agreement or general agreement among the community of scientists in a particular field of study. Consensus implies general agreement, though not necessarily unanimity.
Etymology
The term "scientific consensus" is derived from the Latin word scientia, meaning "knowledge", and consensus, meaning "agreement".
Definition
Scientific consensus is not simply the majority opinion among scientists. Rather, it represents a position that has been arrived at through a process of rigorous testing and review, typically involving peer review and replication of results by independent researchers. The consensus is often summarized in position statements issued by professional scientific organizations.
Related Terms
- Peer review: The evaluation of work by one or more people with similar competences as the producers of the work.
- Position statement: A statement that communicates the official stance or belief of an organization.
- Replication (statistics): The repetition of an experimental condition so that the variability associated with the phenomenon can be estimated.
- Scientific method: A method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
See Also
- Scientific consensus on climate change
- Scientific consensus on evolution
- Scientific consensus on GMO safety
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Scientific consensus
- Wikipedia's article - Scientific consensus
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