Scientific knowledge

On the CollectivePower platform, we aim to bring together experiential knowledge with scientific knowledge, but it's not always clear how science distinguishes itself in the process of knowledge formation and the ultimate outcome. Science is divided across many different fields (disciplines). Therefore, it's all the more important to identify three crucial characteristics of scientific knowledge that also distinguish it from other, non-scientific forms of knowledge.

1. The pursuit of theoretical knowledge about reality
   • Not a collection of isolated facts or a descriptive narrative (journalism), but a coherent set of statements aimed at explaining a social or natural phenomenon, in other words, the theory.
   • These statements are testable and generalizable.
2. Based on empirical data
   • The data is collected through observation using standardized collection and processing methods.
   • True to reality and accurate
3. A systematic approach that follows the rules and standards of the academic community
   • Independent: the research must not be influenced by the interests of the parties involved.
   • Reproducible: the results of the scientific research must be replicable so they can be verified. 
   • Cumulative: the research builds on previous knowledge.
   • Transparant about data and methods: the data collection and processing methods must be clearly defined.
   • Peer-reviewed: the research results have been (anonymously) reviewed and assessed by other scientists so that any potential errors can be detected.

Methods

• Quantitative methods: Characteristic is the statistical processing of databases with numerical data resulting from questionnaires, experiments, etc. The emphasis is on working with hypotheses, that is, testing an expectation formulated based on existing knowledge and theoretical insights.

• Qualitative methods: Characteristic is the verbal processing of the results of interviews, case studies, fieldwork, and ethnographies. The emphasis is on description and explanation, discovering correlations that can then be tested and expanded in other research.

Citizen Science

This definition also encompasses scientific knowledge acquired through a transdisciplinary approach or through Citizen Science. Transdisciplinary means that science collaborates with the research subject itself, for example, the members of a citizen collective. With tools like the self-scan, CollectivePower gives practical form to transdisciplinary research. Citizen Science represents an approach in which citizens are actively involved in collecting and recording data. CollectivePower can be seen as a radical form of citizen science, as it focuses on the interaction and knowledge exchange between citizens, citizen collectives, scientists, governments, financial institutions, and network organizations.

Using our knowledge base

Get started with our knowledge base (available in Dutch) In our knowledge base, you will find scientific publications, infographics, podcast episodes, documentaries, and more knowledge resources.

Go to the knowledge base