phenomenahow

Phenomenahow is a neologism used in philosophy of science and epistemology to describe the relation between phenomena as observed and the processes by which those phenomena are explained. The term signals a deliberate separation between what is encountered (the phenomenon) and the cognitive, methodological, and cultural steps that yield an explanation (the how).

Origin and usage: The coinage appeared in late 2010s to early 2020s in online discussions and scholarly commentary as a shorthand for meta-analytic inquiry into explanation processes. It is often invoked to analyze how scientific explanations are constructed, not merely what they explain.

Conceptual framework: Phenomenahow invites dual-aspect analysis. The "phenomenon" side focuses on description, perception, and data; the "how" side focuses on instrumentation, theoretical models, inference rules, and biases. The approach emphasizes transparency about observation conditions, measurement tools, and the theory-ladenness of interpretation.

Applications: In science education, phenomenahow guides students to articulate both observed outcomes and the steps used to interpret them. In research methodology, it supports reflexive reporting of data collection, model selection, and inference. In science communication, it helps audiences distinguish observed results from proposed explanations.

Limitations: Critics warn that rigidly separating phenomenon and method can obscure interaction effects between observation and theory; it can complicate reporting and risk dualism if not implemented carefully.

See also: epistemology, philosophy of science, phenomenology, theory-ladenness, scientific method.