ABSTRACT
Scientists aim on the one hand at establishing facts, on the other at developing coherent, organic theories. The theory is said to be true or false according to whether it fits the facts or not. This assertion does not, however, cover the whole subject, for facts which help in the development of the theoretical structure are, by and large, much more acceptable than awkward ones which threaten it. Scientists are, however, bound to accept all facts if they can be substantiated, but the awkward ones will have to run the gauntlet of a much more virulent critical estimation than the others. There is thus a close relation between facts and theories and they are often considered as belonging to the same class of phenomena.3 If natural scientists can consider them thus, psychology, in which theories and observable facts are inter changeable, ceases to become such a dubious science.
