To examine Science

Here are some questions you can use when you write your own work or use when you
examine other works.

Are the questions/the hypothesis relevant and correctly expressed?

What is the strong/the weak side of the theories/the theoretical background?

What is the strong/the weak side of the method/methods?

How reliable is the empirical base?

For instance:

- The choice of observations/facts and sources?

- The possibility of testing and retesting?
- Which are the important hidden (implicit) or open (explicit) premises/supporting
hypothesis?
- How reliable is the induction(s)

Are there any logical mistakes?

Are there any explicit (open)/implicit (hidden) values?

(Would the work gain something if the implicit values were explicit?)

Are there need for more clarifications of some words/concepts/conceptions?

The aim of examining the scientific background is to add the knowledge and the
understanding of science and what scientific problems are. The aim is also to make
scientific works more clear and reliable.

The questions above are a help to reach the aim, but the most important tool is always
the scientist´s (your) own critical thinking. (so you don´t necessarily need to answer
every question)

Reflections and observations about science shall be presented 1) in the in end of your
own work under the headline “Discussion” 2) when you act as opponent.