Hypothetico-Deductive Method

Question 1

Context of Discovery

Answer 1

How did people come up with the theoretical hypothesis, a historical account of what led to the formulation of the particular hypothesis

Question 2

Context of Justification

Answer 2

What reasons do we have to accept the hypothesis as true, how well does it stand up to tests, what features it possesses that make it a good hypothesis

Question 3

Problems with induction as a method of discovery in science

Answer 3

-Many scientific hypotheses are not only extrapolations of data, for example, hypotheses about unobservable entities are not inferred from observations/simple inductive arguments
- Without any guidance from theoretical hypotheses there is way to identify fruitful observations/experiments, since there are too many things to observe/test and we dont know which is relevant and which arent
THEREFORE, inductive reasoning cannot be the whole story with scientific reasoning

Question 4

Creativity in Discovery

Answer 4

Since there is no algorithm for inventing hypotheses, irrational factors such as dreams, hallucinations etc. could play a role.

Question 5

What observation do when using induction as a method of discovery

Answer 5

• be objective
• publicly available
• yield beliefs we can hold with certainty

Question 6

Hypothetico-Deductive Model of Science (HD Model)

Answer 6

Scientists:

• come up with a theoretical hypothesis
• deduce testable predictions from the hypothesis
• test whether the predictions are true or not

no inductive reasoning is involved, scientists create hypotheses from deductive reasoning (hence HD), it i then tested by observation or experiment

For practical reasons, the three steps may be performed by different people/organisations.

Question 7

Semmelweis

Answer 7

1840’s.
Testing reasons for higher mortality rate in 1st maternity division than the 2nd.
Using a deductive method of testing,
‘If H is true, then so is I.
I is not true (according to evidence).
Therefore H is not true.’
Meaning that as long as the premises are true then the conclusion must be true.
When the cleaner method is tested and produces good results, this does not entail that the hypothesis is true.
This would be affirming the consequent, a fallible argument.
This is proven correct when he discovers that it is not only the cadaveric substances causing deaths but also putrid substances from living organisms were causing death.
HD Model does not address how Semmelweis came up with the multiple hypotheses, this is a question on the context of discovery.