Final answer:
Best practices in scientific inquiry are based on evidence-based research, which involves the accumulation of empirical evidence through proven scientific methods. These methods are carefully designed experiments and observations that lead to confirmation or falsification of hypotheses, and the knowledge they produce is always tentative and subject to change.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term "best practices" refers to methods or techniques that have been determined through research and experience to be reliable and to produce the intended results. In the context of scientific inquiry, the best practices are those that are supported by evidence-based research.
This entails the accumulation of empirical evidence through accepted scientific procedures. Therefore, when referring to practices supported by empirical evidence obtained through proven scientific methods, the correct answer is option C) Evidence-based research.
These practices contrast with anecdotal knowledge, unsubstantiated opinions, and conjecture and speculation because they rely on proven research methods. These methods involve observation, hypothesis formation, careful observation, refinement of hypotheses, testing, and experimentation,
which ultimately lead to confirmation or falsification of the hypothesis. Scientific knowledge, therefore, is always tentative and subject to change as new data emerge or as methods and theories improve.
Finally, it is crucial to understand the principles that guide scientific research and recognize that the knowledge we acquire through scientific methods integrates into our worldview, constantly testing and revealing new insights. This recognition allows us to balance personal biases with the intuitive leaps that drive successful science.