Empirical methods are the means by which scientists gather information about the world in order to develop
theories. These include
experiment, disclosure of apparatus for
reproducing experiments[?], and other ways in which theories are in/validated by scientists. The
philosophy of science is mostly concerned with defining, disclosing and limiting the application of these methods. The term
quasi-empirical methods evolved to describe aspects of the
scientific method which are not amenable to
disproof by experiment[?]. These are now widely recognized to constitute much of what is loosely called '
scientific consensus[?]', especially as some sciences (e.g.
string theory in physics,
climate change in ecology) are not amenable to direct experimental invalidation, or indeed controlled experiment.