Encyclopedian Dictionary

expertise

Pronunciation key

( ek′spẽr-tēz′ )

ex•pert•ise

[Fr. < OFr. < expert, experienced. See EXPERT].

Expert opinion or advice.
Specialized skill, knowledge and training of an expert.

References

expert

Pronunciation key

( ek′spẽrt )
( ik-spũrt′ )

ex•pert

adj.

[ME.; OFr.; L. expertus pp. of experiri to try, see EXPERIENCE].

Skillful; having extensive training and knowledge in a special field.
Of or from an expert, such as "An expert opinion."

A person who demonstrates a high degree of training, skill, knowledge and dexterity due to training and experience in a special field.

Military. The highest grade possible which can be achieved in marksmanship.
- Rifleman; the highest of three ratings of proficiency. See sharpshooter, marksman.
- A soldier who has achieved this rating.

—ex′pert′ly adv. —ex′pert′ness n.

References

experimentation

Pronunciation key

( ik-sper′ə-men-tā′shən )

ex•per•i•men•ta•tion

Act, process, practice of an experiment; using experiments.

In modern philosophy of science it is the use of observation, classification, prediction and verification of a given hypothesis according to proper experiences. Claimed to be innovations promoted by the 17th century English philosopher Francis Bacon in modern time, the support of experimental method and critique of empty theorizing can be traced back to Aristotle.

References

Related Terms

experiential

experiment

experimental

experimental neurosis

experimental psychology

experimentally

Pronunciation key

( ik-sper′ə-men′t´l-i )

ex•per•i•men•tal•ly

adv.

By experiments.
As an experiment.

References

experimentalism

Pronunciation key

( ik-sper′ə-men′tʼl-izʼm )
( ik′sper-ə-men′tʼl-izʼm )

ex•per•i•men•tal•ism

The preference of relying on empirical and experimental methods to determine validity of any idea; Theory or practice of depending on experimentation; empiricism.
Propensity for experimentation.

References

experimental

Pronunciation key

( ik-sper′ə-men′tʼl )
( ek′sper-ə-men′tʼl )

ex•per•i•men•tal

adj.

Pertaining to or based on experience rather than theory or authority.
Empirical; Founded upon, tested by, or having the nature of experiment.
Given to, for the sake of experiment; testing; therefore,
Tentative.
Used for experiments.

ex•per′i•men′tal•ly adv.

Experimental Aircraft Association. Association founded in 1953 of enthusiasts interested in home-built aircraft.

Experimental Fighting Biplane No. 1. An experimental aircraft built in 1913, by the Vickers company of Britain.

Experimental geophysics. See geophysics and solid earth.

Experimentalism. (Philosophy). See instrumentalism.

Experimental Novel, The. Translation of LE ROMAN EXPÉRIMENTAL (1880) Émile Zola's manifesto of Naturalism, in which he applied to fiction the methods of observation and experiment practiced by the natural scientists.

References

Related Terms

experiment

Pronunciation key

( ik-spēr′ə-ment )

ex•per•i•ment

[ME.; OFr.; L. experimentum a trial, test < experiri to try; see EXPERIENCE].

Test or trial.

An action performed to discover something unknown, or to demonstrate something that is a known truth or to test the validity of a hypothesis.
An action performed to know whether it will be effective such as, An experiment allowing employees to choose their break time.

The process of conducting such tests; experimentation.

Experiment, GA
Google Maps
Experiment, Georgia

An unincorporated village located in West Central Georgia, Spaulding County on the Central of the Georgia Railroad and U.S. highways 19 and 41; 2 miles NNW of Griffin. The village is the location of the Georgia experiment station operated by the University of Georgia College of Agriculture. Population in 1950 was 4,265 inhabitants.

v.i.

To conduct an experiment or experiments.

—ex•per′i•ment′er n.

Syn. Trial.

An experiment is observation that are recorded under controlled conditions of which a series of events intended to demonstrate a possible regularity in the behavior of people, animals or objects. Almost all experiments involve some form of movement. One of the first experiments in history around 600 BC and was performed by Thales of Meletus. Thales observed that if a piece of amber were rubbed with fabric it acquired the property of attracting paperlight objects. The Greeks named this property electricity which was derived from the Greek term for amber. However, since Thales merely recorded what he saw he was not a true experimental scientist.

A modern experimental scientist in the true sense, would apply the same observations to other materials to determine if they too produce some of the same results. He would also attempt to make quantitative determinations of this property in terms of the size of the of amber in combination with the length of time it is rubbed with fabric. The experimental scientist would attempt to explain the property in terms of phenomena observed and understood during previous experiments. In light of modern science and availability of information about atoms and molecular particles, Thales was at a great disadvantage. Modern methods and techniques of experimentation have grown far more complicated.

From the simple concept of experimentation have grown several sciences which build knowledge on prior observations made under controlled conditions which guarantee identical results if repeated. Basic physic best exemplifies such a field of science. Many experiments are conducted and repeated often with an increasing degree of accuracy.

In some fields of science it is not as easy to control the variables or artificially produce experimental results in the confines of a lab. Observational sciences such as astronomy or geology must rely on theories which are dignified only through collection of large amounts of data which has been previously collected. An astronomer cannot collect a sample of Mars' atmosphere and retire to the lab to analyze its composition though he can observe with a spectroscope what light is given off by the planet and indirectly deduce what gasses and chemical composition comprises the Martian atmosphere. However, his results will be no more accurate than his experimental techniques.

Biology often relies on indirect methods of experiment and correlation of data since it deals with living creatures and restricted in the control it can exhibit. Living organisms differ individual to individual therefore, typically, scientists restrict studies to groups and interpret their results in terms of averages. To obtain final results they must use indirect methods for evaluation such as statistics. If working with nonliving specimens the problem is complicated by changes that that occur in tissues after life has expired. Obtaining conclusive results in such cases biologists must use the indirect methods of comparison between the living and nonliving organism to interpret his research.

Experiment in Autobiography. A book by H.G. Wells (1934). (Archive)

Experiment in International Living. An educational exchange institution established in 1932 to promote international understanding. It operates the School for International Training in Brattleboro, Vermont. During the 1980's it had representative nationalities in 64 countries.

See Science, Experimental Sciences, Scientific Method, Science Projects, Sociology (Controlled Experiments).
Experiment Station, see Agricultural Experiment Station.