I would suggest that there are no 'average laymen' humans all operate using the scientific method. It's how babies learn to walk: observing the world around us (observation), thinking how to replicate or expand on it (theories), then proving by doing (evidence). Poor example I know, but I could have used cavemen with fire, farmers with the seasons, or a biologist in a lab. The scientific method is the [b]only true[/b] human invention. Some just chose/are able to study it further in specifics, and call themselves scientists.

I guess you could argue as long as a theory is applicable, it might as well be truth, but that would undermine the field.