1. K. Gavroglu, “Research Guiding Principles in Modern Physics: Case studies in Elementary Particle Physics”. Zeitschrift für allgemeine Wissenschaftstheorie,VII/2 1976, pp. 223–248.
2. P1→TT→P2. A tentative theory (TT) is proposed for the solution of a problem P1. Error elimination procedures (EE) lead to the falsification of TT and thus give rise to a new problem P2. See K. PopperObjective Knowledge, Oxford, 1975, p. 287 et seq.
3. K. Popper, op. cit., p. 106 et seq.
4. For a thorough and systematic “blowing up” of Popper's tetradic schema see G. Radnitzky, “Popperian Philosophy of Science as an Antidote against Relativism” in R. S. Cohen et al. (eds)Essays in Memory of Imre Lakatos, D. Reidel, 1976.
5. As it will become apparent in what follows, we qualify the term “problem situation” in a slightly different manner than Popper (Objective Knowledge, op. cit. p. 165). For us a problem situation comprises all right “a problem together with its background (and perhaps together with other third world objects)” but it is a situation which is itself “problematic” — no tentative solution seems to solve the problem and gain a satisfactory consensus. It is a crisis situation.