How values influence decisions in science

Science involves making choices. Which hypothesis should be put to the test? Which model should be used to describe a system; and which approximations and assumptions should be enforced? Different factors figure in this decision-making process. Do we want the model to produce numerically accurate results that closely agree with our experiments, or to make new predictions? Should the use of approximations result in simple and understandable representations, or should they be justified by our background theories? Such considerations reflect the expectations scientists have for their results. Looking closely at these expectations reveals that scientists are guided by how they value and perceive the different functions of science.

Initially, one might think that all that should be considered is how our theories fare with our available empirical evidence. For example, if a hypothesis, model or assumption contradicts our observations, then there is probably something wrong with it and it shouldn’t be employed. However, empirical adequacy is not always a sufficient criterion for making choices.