Lecture 2 Flashcards
Why study the scientific method?
- Lack of understanding of the scientific method impedes knowledge generation (Lewis Pasture)
- Poor use of the scientific method is very costly
- Scientific inquiry refers to the diverse ways in which scientists study the natural world and propose explanations based on the evidence derived from their work. Inquiry also refers to the activities of students in which they develop knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, as well as an understanding of how scientists study the natural world
- We improve science education by harmonizing our instruction with the way that students learn
Everyone is a Scientist
- You’re doing science regardless of your profession
- The scientific method has enormous benefits for modern society
Hypothesis
- An explanation for a puzzling observation
- Answer to causal question
- unlimited number of hypotheses for each causal question
- some hypotheses seem to have more merit than others
- scientific inquiry seeks to verify or refute hypotheses
Properties of Hypotheses
Testability - You can design a test for the hypothesis which produces new information (not contained in the hypothesis) OR A testable hypothesis produces predictions that provide information not embedded in the hypothesis
- Not violate any known properties of the world
- Supported by a strong rationale
Laws of Thought
Law of non-contradiction - nothing can have a property and lack it at the same time
Law of identity - everything is identical to itself
Law of excluded middle - for a particular property, everything either has it or lacks it
Logic
The study of correct thinking
- Science must obey the laws of logic
- This lets us figure out what is possible and not possible
- Very good deciding on a hypothesis
- Logically impossible = something cannot exist
- Physically impossible = violate general laws of science
- Technologically impossible - not possible because it exceeds what we think is technologically possible
Falsification
A hypothesis is only valid if you can show that its wrong
- Falsification is too narrow in that implies that we can know some things to be false but can never know if they are true
- Testability: this allows us to provide support for OR against a particular hypothesis, Ultimately, this leads us to either accept as true or reject as false the explanation
Scientific Process
- Descriptive question (observations)
- Causal Question
- Propose alternative explanations (hypothesize)
THEN WHAT
- Hypothesis testing (we need to decide whether a hypothesis is correct or wrong
Hypothesis Testing
- involves the collection of information
- imagination and creativity helpful
- sometimes appears to only obliquely relate to hypothesis
different ways to do this: experiments, observational studies, meta-analysis, mathematical modeling
Predictions
- ARE NOT HYPOTHESES
- Logical extension of hypothesis and tests
- Not based on personal feelings or intuition
- Future form; should or would
- Not Testable
Conclusions
- Statement of support for or against the hypothesis
- More or better evidence leads to more confidence in your conclusion
- Usually accompanied by suggestions for additional research and speculation about why the hypothesis was or wasn’t supported
Scientific Statement
If my hypothesis is true
And I were to do a test
Then I should see some particular result
And/But I did or did not
Therefore my hypothesis is (or is not) supported
Scientific Method
Make observations > Ask why is it like this > Hypothesize > Imagine a test > Deduce a prediction > Collect data > Compare results with prediction > Supported or Not supported
