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Flexibility (Dictionary Entry)

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Contexts

Science

Term

Flexibility

Alternative Forms

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Definitions

The capacity to seek out, recognize and exploit errors - especially one’s own - or discrepancies between what tentative theory suggests should be and what practices says is.

Related Terms

  • Parsimony

Quotes

2.2 Flexibility

On this view efficient scientific iteration evidently requires unhampered feedback. The iterative scheme shown as a feedback loop in Figure A (2). In any feedback loop it is, of course, the error signal - for example, the discrepancy between what tentative theory suggests should be so and what practice says is so - that can produce learning. The good scientist must have the flexibility and courage to seek out, recognize, and exploit such errors - especially his own. In particular, using Bacon’s analogy, he must not be like Pygmalion and fall in love with his model.

(Box, 1976, p. 791-792)

Bibliography

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