Lakatos's Methodology of Research Programs

Lakatos's Methodology of Scientific Research Programmes suggests that scientific progress occurs through groups of related theories called research programmes. Each programme has a core set of fundamental assumptions, surrounded by a protective belt of auxiliary hypotheses. When new findings challenge the programme, scientists modify the auxiliary hypotheses rather than abandoning the core. Progress is shown when a research programme develops novel, testable predictions that lead to further discoveries. This approach helps distinguish between theories that are genuinely advancing knowledge and those that are not, emphasizing continuity and evolution rather than outright rejection of ideas in scientific progress.