Working Hypothesis -- what is the value?

The true art of science is a well designed experiment. Some of my favorite examples are the Luria-Delbruck fluctuation experiment and the Rutherford gold foil experiment. These were simple yet profound experiments that were compelling because they tested a hypothesis so well and so thoroughly.Having an idea and being inspired by that idea are great. However, what separates the idea-people from the great scientists is the ability to test that idea in a compelling manner. So not only should it test your hypothesis, but it should test it in such a way that it makes the conclusion obvious as day.To the specific hypothesis at hand, your hypothesis should not be "yeti sightings are fake", as others have mentioned. What you want are experimental observations and tests that are so compelling for an alternative that the yeti explanation simply falls by the wayside.I also use the word "compelling" a lot because it is an extremely important characteristic of good science. In scientific arguments between hypothesis, it is the strength of the experiments that compels acceptance.

To confuse this even more, people we would consider "non-scientists" also apply the scientific method to their work. Farmers experiment with different varieties and fertilizers to improve their yields. Car mechanics use inference to determine what is wrong with an engine.It might be more helpful to look at the hierarchy of knowledge: how it is gained, how it is communicated, and how it is applied. Some people may view scientists as those doing original research in basic science. Engineers are those who apply that basic knowledge and create new and useful technologies. Those new technologies can even filter back to the scientists doing basic science research, allowing them to do knew experiments and make new discoveries. Other end users may be common laborers or people working in a trade.However, you can find people throughout that hierarchy who are doing science. People from farmers to particle physicists are applying the scientific method to solve problems as part of their job.