WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEORY & FACT?

In popular usage, theory can be defined as a vague and fuzzy form of fact, and always changes if it is deemed as untrue or the current situation requires it to changes. It is made up of 3 steps of methodology, Pratt (1998) which is:

1. Making an observation.
2. Come out with a theory.
3. Using the theory to predict future observations.

Compared to hypothesis, which exist as the 1^st base of formulating scientific laws, theories are lighter in weight and is placed as the 2^nd base. Nevertheless, both are proposed from research. For professionals such as scientist, theory is a conceptual framework that explains existing observation and predicts new ones. For instance, in the case of sunrise, it is an existing observation which is explained by the theory of gravity proposed by Sir Isaac Newton. His theory explains why the sun is seen moving across the sky, as well as many other phenomenon such as the trajectory followed by the sun as it move across the sky, the phases of the moon, Venus, & the tides, just to mention a few. Thanks to his theory, it is possible to calculate the above phenomenon’s’ occurrences for the next 2 centuries. Nevertheless, theories are always presented to be true even if the claims in the said theories are mere speculations or a general agreement between a significant numbers of experts. Moreover, theories are statements that often undergo a series of tests to nullify the claims made by those who oppose them.

On the other hand, fact usually remains perpetual & true most of the time and it can also be supported by evidences. It is what one can readily observe, and it can pertain to any objectives as well as real phenomenon such as the trajectory of a boomerang after being thrown, the motion direction of a ball after being thrown vertically upward, or other simple observation occurrences. The facts that can be gathered from the former example are that the boomerang’s trajectory will curve inwardly, while for the latter is that the ball’s motion direction will be downward during its descending. As it is acquired from observations, we can relate fact to theories. Furthermore, if the activities that create those 2 phenomenons are done repeatedly under a controlled environment that cancels all unnecessary variables; those 2 phenomenons would have become very obvious, true, & undeniable facts, and will remain so even after a long period of time unless there exist more rigid and precise methods / ways of measuring certain phenomenon. As a conclusion, the following statement can make things easier to understand:

• Fact are observation while theories are the explanations to those observation.
• Theories are vague truths or unclear fact whereas facts are really fact.

References:

1. Pratt, P. J. (1998). Fact or Theory?. Johnpratt.com. Retrieved April 3, 2012, from http://www,johnpratt.com/items/astronomy/science.html
2. http://www.differencebetween.net/language/difference-between-fact-and-theory/