Could there be another explanation?
For any result, ask: is there another explanation? — the first explanation that fits isn't always the right one, and good scientists actively look for alternatives
Typical age: 7–9 years
“When your child comes up with an explanation for something they observed, do they try to think of at least one other possible explanation before deciding they've found the answer?”
0 / 2 mastered
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Needs first
- Changing Your Mind with EvidenceREQUIRED
Actively seeking alternative explanations requires first having the habit of not defending your original interpretation against the evidence
- Understanding Why
Asking 'is there another explanation?' is the scientific form of the universal elaborative-interrogation habit
Unlocks next
- Science Can Be Revised
Provisionality of scientific knowledge is grounded in the habit of always seeking alternative explanations — science revises because scientists keep asking 'is there another way to explain this?'
- Using evidence to answer questions
Identifying similarities and differences in evidence opens up space for alternative explanations — patterns that differ from expectations prompt the habit of seeking alternatives
- Correlation vs CausationREQUIRED
Recognising that correlation is not causation requires the habit of generating alternative explanations — the correlation/causation distinction is a specific case of asking 'is there another explanation?'