Scientific knowledge refers to a generalized body of laws and theories that explain a phenomenon or behavior of interest and are acquired using a process of logic and evidence/01%3A_Science_and_Scientific_Research/1.02%3A_Scientific_Knowledge). It is a collection of reliable new information about the physical world that is gained through the intensive process of data. Scientific knowledge is built on previous studies and tested theories, and the progression is often not linear. The goal of scientific research is to discover laws and postulate theories that can explain natural or social phenomena, or in other words, build scientific knowledge/01%3A_Science_and_Scientific_Research/1.02%3A_Scientific_Knowledge).
It is important to understand that scientific knowledge may be imperfect or even quite far from the truth/01%3A_Science_and_Scientific_Research/1.02%3A_Scientific_Knowledge). Sometimes, there may not be a single universal truth, but rather an equilibrium of “multiple truths” /01%3A_Science_and_Scientific_Research/1.02%3A_Scientific_Knowledge). Theories, upon which scientific knowledge is based, are only explanations of a particular phenomenon, as suggested by a scientist. As such, there may be good or poor explanations, depending on the extent to which those explanations fit well with reality, and consequently, there may be good or poor theories/01%3A_Science_and_Scientific_Research/1.02%3A_Scientific_Knowledge). The progress of science is marked by our progression over time from poorer theories to better theories, through better observations using more accurate instruments and more informed logical reasoning/01%3A_Science_and_Scientific_Research/1.02%3A_Scientific_Knowledge).
In science, theories and observations are interrelated and cannot exist without each other. Theories provide meaning and significance to what we observe, and observations provide evidence to support or refute theories/01%3A_Science_and_Scientific_Research/1.02%3A_Scientific_Knowledge). Scientific knowledge is obtained and tested through the use of the scientific method.
