QUERIES 'N THEORIES: An instructional game on the DOT, DOT, DOT, ... approach to scientific method

Abstract

QUERIES 'N THEORIES provides a parallel to the strong inference approach to scientific method — designing experiments, observing data, and theorizing. The reiterated use of the DOT approach (Design, Observe, Theorize) in the problem-solving required by the game mirrors the regular, systematic application of strong inference in some areas of science (e.g., high energy physics and molecular biology) that have moved ahead much more rapidly than others. Moreover, the game embodies and provides practive in two aspects of scientific theorizing and designing which John Platt has pointed out as central to scientific advance: (1) the usefulness of multiple hypotheses and (2) disproof as science's mode of advance.