Science and Ordinary Knowing

Question 1

What is science?

Answer 1

• Is a process and a way of thinking about the universe and leads to an understanding how it works
• Is based on 3 concepts:
  Use of systematic empiricism
  Production of publicly verifiable knowledge
  Examination of solvable problems

Question 2

What isn’t science?

Answer 2

• isn’t defined by subject matter or tools

Question 3

Theory

Answer 3

An interrelated set of tested concepts used to explain an aspect of the natural world
- many agree and have tested the hypothesis

Question 4

Hypothesis

Answer 4

A specific prediction derived from a theory
( a research question or idea)
- Falsifiable
- Specific
- Coherent (relevant to topic)
- Logical
- Parsimonious (not too complicated)

Question 5

Guess

Answer 5

An unverified hypothesis or hunch

Question 6

What happens if a theory is false?

Answer 6

• modify theory or replace it
  The new theory should have :
• facts explained by original theory must still be supported
• facts not explained by theory should get explained

Question 7

A testable theory should be

Answer 7

• a solvable problem
• falsifiable
• specific

Question 8

What if a hypothesis is not supported ?

Answer 8

• science is about ruling out what doesn’t work
• Peer review and replication is important to check and verify conclusions
• lack of falsifiability leads to stagnation and harm