TutorVista.com has an article on the Scientific Method simple enough for this lowly parent to follow. It lists a number of steps which it describes as constituting the scientific method. One of the points highlighted in the article is the provisional nature of a scientific theory or law :

Provisional essentially means temporary, conditional or transitional:
provisional adjective 1. temporary, interim, transitional, stopgap, pro tem <<> Collins Essential Thesaurus 2nd Edition 2006 © HarperCollins Publishers 2005, 2006 .
The scientific method recognizes that further evidence may refute a generally accepted theory. The scientific method encourages further evidence and challenge to accepted theories. Dr. Bernadine Healy, who has pointed out some of the limits of the existing epidemiological studies has also questioned the policy set out in the IOM 2004 report on vaccine safety, and pushed in the media by Dr. Paul Offit, of discouraging further research of possible vaccine autism connections as being contrary to the scientific method.
TutorVista also emphasizes the importance to scientific investigation of control sets:
Dr. Bernadine Healy, Dr. Julie Gerberding and Dr. Duane Alexander have all called for comparison of autism rates in vaccinated and unvaccinated groups. Those who oppose such research complain of costs and complexity. Some claim that the science is done, the evidence is in.
To this humble parent, and small town lawyer, it seems that the voices who have declared that the science is complete have in fact abandoned science when it comes to vaccine autism issues. Because of the important role played by vaccines in fighting diseases it is no longer acceptable to raise concerns about the chemical and biological agents which we inject, with increasing frequency, into the bloodstreams of our children. No one may ask whether autism, and other neurological disorders, may be triggered by these chemical and biological agents. No more research may be done on vaccine safety. The theory that vaccines do not contribute in any way to the onset of autism disorders will not be tested any further. Vaccine safety will be exempt, for public policy reasons, from further research or challenge as the scientific method contemplates.
Dr. Paul Offit is the high priest of the official public health religion that worships the golden calf of vaccine programs. In this religion no questioning of the golden calf will be permitted. The ultimate form of questioning, scientific investigation, will be forbidden.
The comparative studies of autism rates amongst vaccinated and unvaccinated populations will not be conducted.
If Dr. Offit prevails idol worship will replace scientific method.
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