Theory-Ladenness of Observation
Updated 2026-08-08
INTRODUCTION
English translation pending.
CORE DEFINITION
Developed by Hanson. Observation is shaped by the conceptual framework the observer brings, so two people can look at the same object and see different things without either misperceiving. The claim is not that perception is arbitrary but that identifying what one sees already involves interpretation, so evidence cannot settle a dispute independently of the frameworks in play.
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
- Expose the framework: state the theory you are assuming before presenting evidence as neutral - Change the lens: offer a new way of seeing rather than more data when a dispute is stuck - Cross-check frames: have someone with a different background describe what they see in the same material
Anchor fast decisions
Perception is not a passive recording but an act of categorization, and categories come from prior learning. Training changes which distinctions become visible, so an expert and a novice receive different information from the same stimulus. Because identification is part of perception, evidence is always already interpreted, which is why data alone rarely changes a committed view.
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/1Practice this model in one real situation:
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Source support: Explicit
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory-ladennessverified
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