Final answer:
Personal websites are generally not considered reliable evidence for scientific claims as they may contain subjective opinions or unverified information. Concrete evidence in science comes from measurable, observable, and replicable data such as peer-reviewed research, controlled experiments, and statistical analyses.
Step-by-step explanation:
When addressing the question of whether personal websites serve as evidence for a scientific claim, it is essential to understand the nature of what constitutes reliable and credible evidence in science. Concrete evidence in science typically includes data that can be reliably measured, observed, and replicated. This could mean scientific studies published in peer-reviewed journals, data from controlled experiments, or statistical analyses. Personal websites, unless they reference peer-reviewed research or present data from verifiable sources, may not be adequate sources for supporting scientific claims, as they can include personal opinions, anecdotal evidence, or unverified information.
Furthermore, part of scientific reasoning involves the explanation, elaboration, and clarification of how data supports a claim. A student who can justify the selection of the kind of data needed to answer a scientific question demonstrates understanding of the scientific method. They recognize that personal experiences shared on websites lack the objectivity and rigor required in scientific research. Instead, the student would look for evidence from experiments, direct observations, and reliable sources that undergo a process of scientific scrutiny.