FALSIFIKASI KARL POPPER: KAJIAN EPISTEMOLOGIS DAN IMPLIKASINYA BAGI METODE PENELITIAN

Abstract

The philosophy of science plays a crucial role in explaining the foundations of knowledge and the criteria for the scientificity of a theory. One figure who made a significant contribution to this field is Karl Raimund Popper through his theory of falsification. This article aims to examine Karl Popper's thoughts on falsification and analyze their implications for research methods. This research uses a qualitative approach with library research. Data were obtained from various literature sources, such as books, journal articles, and relevant scientific works, and then analyzed using content analysis techniques. The results of the study indicate that Popper rejected the verification principle developed by logical positivism and replaced it with the principle of falsifiability as the primary criterion for a theory's scientificity. According to Popper, a theory is considered scientific if it can be tested, refuted, and potentially proven wrong through empirical testing. Falsification theory also forms the basis for distinguishing science from non-science (pseudo-science). In research, Popper's thinking encouraged a shift from inductive methods to a hypothetical deductive approach that emphasizes critical testing of hypotheses. Thus, falsification theory remains relevant as an epistemological foundation for developing scientific research that is critical, objective, and open to evaluation and knowledge renewal.