Empirical methods

Empirical methods are the means by which scientists gather information about the world in order to develop theories. These include experiment, disclosure of apparatus for reproducing experiments, and other ways in which theories are in/validated by scientists. The philosophy of science is mostly concerned with defining, disclosing and limiting the application of these methods. The term quasi-empirical methods evolved to describe aspects of the scientific method which are not amenable to disproof by experiment. These are now widely recognized to constitute much of what is loosely called 'scientific consensus', especially as some sciences (e.g. string theory in physics, climate change in ecology) are not amenable to direct experimental invalidation, or indeed controlled experiment.