Changes

|Current View=Three different types of criteria have been identified so far: criteria of demarcation, criteria of acceptance, and criteria of compatibility. Methods should not be confused with openly professed [[Methodology|methodologies]], which prescribe how science ''ought'' to be done. Methods should also be differentiated from research techniques, which are used in theory construction and data gathering.== Open questions ==•How do technological research tools relate to employed methods? Currently, according to the TSC, knowledge concerning technical tools takes the forms of accepted beliefs, for example: “telescopes are useful tools for examining distant celestial bodies”. This in turn leads to the employment of telescopes as a method for examining celestial bodies. However, are there technological tools that are used independently of any method? Consider the telescope before is was known to be useful to astronomy(Paul Patton, 2016) One possibility might be the technique of brainstorming: we commonly use it as a research technique, but don’t seem to formulate it as a method. (Hakob Barseghyan, 2016)

• Can we apply the "accepted/used/pursued" distinction to methods? If so, this might help us in our analysis of how normative propositions (especially ethical propositions) affect method employment. For example, a method deemed unethical may Methods should not be used, but still accepted as being effective for theory assessment. • The TSC currently states that the employment of a new concrete method cannot lead to the rejection of another employed method. Howeverconfused with openly professed [[Methodology|methodologies]], it seems conceivable that method X might cease to be employed when a new method is employed which is thought prescribe how science ''ought'' to be more effective than Xdone. Are there any examples of this happening in the history of science? (Mirka Loiselle, 2016) • Scientists often seem to rely on practical propositions when conduction research— e.g “when conducting an experiment, chose the cheapest technique capable of producing acceptable results”. What is the status of practical propositions like these in the mosaic? Are they normative theories, or a separate entity? How are they accepted into the mosaic, and how do they change through time? How do they affect other elements of the mosaic? Do they affect method employment? (Hakob Barseghyan, Paul Patton, 2016) • Can a method become employed by being the deductive consequence of an already accepted methodology? How would this affect the Methodology Can Shape Methods theoremshould also be differentiated from research techniques, which states that methodology can only affect the employment of methods which are implementations of some more abstract requirement? (Mirka Loiselle, 2016)used in theory construction and data gathering.