Lakatos's Methodology of Scientific Research Programs

Lakatos's Methodology of Scientific Research Programs views science as evolving through groups of theories called research programs. Each program has a core set of fundamental ideas that guide research, surrounded by protective belts of auxiliary hypotheses that can adapt and change. Progress occurs when a research program predicts new phenomena and successfully explains data—this is a "progressive" program. If it fails repeatedly and cannot explain new evidence, it becomes "degenerative." Lakatos emphasizes the importance of comparing competing research programs over time, valuing those that exhibit genuine scientific growth and predictive power while allowing for theoretical adjustments.