Does The Scientific Method Necessarily Always Produce Reliable Knowledge

Science is an enormously successful human enterprise. The study ofscientific method is the attempt to discern the activities by whichthat success is achieved. Among the activities often identified ascharacteristic of science are systematic observation andexperimentation, inductive and deductive reasoning, and the formationand testing of hypotheses and theories. How these arecarried out in detail can vary greatly, but characteristics like thesehave been looked to as a way of demarcating scientific activity fromnon-science, where only enterprises which employ some canonical formof scientific method or methods should be considered science (see alsothe entry on).On the other hand, more recent debate has questioned whether there isanything like a fixed toolkit of methods which is common acrossscience and only science.Scientific method should be distinguished from the aims andproducts of science, such as knowledge, predictions, orcontrol. Methods are the means by which those goals areachieved. Scientific method should also be distinguished frommeta-methodology, which includes the values and justifications behinda particular characterizationof scientific method (i.e., a methodology) —values such as objectivity, reproducibility, simplicity,or past successes. Methodological rules are proposed to govern methodand it is a meta-methodological question whether methods obeying thoserules satisfy given values.

• Is The Scientific Method Reliable

Finally, method is distinct, to some degree, fromthe detailed and contextual practices through which methods areimplemented. The latter might range over: specific laboratorytechniques; mathematical formalisms or other specialized languagesused in descriptions and reasoning; technological or other materialmeans; ways of communicating and sharing results, whether with otherscientists or with the public at large; or the conventions, habits,enforced customs, and institutional controls over how and what scienceis carried out.While it is important to recognize these distinctions, theirboundaries are fuzzy. Hence, accounts of method cannot be entirelydivorced from their methodological and meta-methodological motivationsor justifications, Moreover, each aspect plays a crucial role inidentifying methods. Disputes about method have therefore played outat the detail, rule, and meta-rule levels.

The scientific method is a series of steps scientists take in order to perform experiments. It's a way to ask and answers specific questions through experimentation and observation. There are six.

Scientific method is an epistemological system used by the scientists to investigate natural phenomena, developing new knowledge or correcting preceding knowledge (Jennings, 2008:5). It is considered the best objective framework to construct an accurate representation of the world, it include ideas, procedures, rules, techniques and modes which exist in theoretical research, applied research, development and promotion of scientific activities.

This essay aim to prove that although the scientific method does not necessarily always produces reliable and valid knowledge, it is stills a most reasonable inference to help human understand natural phenomena. Therefore, at the first, the basic steps of the scientific method will be introduced. Then the objectivity of the scientific method will be discussed. In addition, some philosophical problems about scientific method will be discussed at the end of the essay.Between the scientific method and other methods of access to knowledge has a different feature: scientists tried to let the facts prove themselves (Ziman, 2000:158). In order to let the facts prove themselves, scientists must follow a series of steps and steps constitute the scientific method. These steps involve observation, hypothesis, prediction, experiment and reproduction.

According to Gower (2002) these steps can be described as following: scientists first collect the observed information to be studied and then put forward a preliminary hypothesis to explain the observations. The hypothesis often is bold guesswork because there is no technique method to create hypothesis. Next, scientists consider which information is useful to test the hypothesis and gather the information by observation or experiments.

Scientists usually share and discuss the obtained information with peers who are also doing research in the same area (Jennings, 2008:6). Scientists can help each other through the sharing and exchange of information; this is an important part to promote the development of science. Therefore, the same information and experiment (sometimes the experimental method might be improved) are repeated by other scientists to strengthen the result then to draw a conclusion to support or oppose the hypothesis.After enough information is gathered, scientists will decide whether the hypothesis is valid. If it has failed in the experiment, then the hypothesis will be negated and a new explanation or hypothesis will be presented. If the hypothesis passed the experiment, it will suffer more complex and more rigorous experiment. The experiment process is often made more careful and accurate by designing and examining alternative hypothesis and then meliorating the hypothesis which passed the experiment. This common method generally called the hypothetico-deductive method.

It starts from the general principle or theory, and then according to the theory derives some concrete conclusions (hypothesis); finally, the conclusion (hypothesis) is applied to the specific phenomenon description and explanation (Ladyman, 2002:18). A general conclusion is obtained after the analysis of many specific examples. Hypothesis and summary are the conventional procedure of scientific method.When perform an experiment, control group and double blind experiment are the commonly used experimental methods. The control group is the group which does not receive the experimental treatment. Setting the control group in the experiment is in order to eliminate the extraneous variable effects on the experimental results. Double blind experiment is an experimental method; it is in order to eliminate possible subjective bias and personal preferences which exist in the awareness of experimenter and participant. If a hypothesis after withstood many tests still not failed, it might be considered as a valid theory.

A theory is logical inference summary that obtained by human cognition of natural and social phenomenon (Jennings, 2008:7). It is worth noting that.The scientific Method1.

The Scientific Method is the process by which scientists, collectively and over time, endeavor to construct an accurate representation of the world. The scientific method attempts to minimize the influence of bias or prejudice in the experimenter when testing a hypothesis or a theory'.Funny thing about the scientific method, the more research I did from web site to web site it became apparent to me that there are many views to actually how many steps there are in the process. For the purpose of this assignment I am going to use the site that stated there are only four and focus my thoughts on these major parts. This article was derived from three different sources and I found it a little deceiving in that the definition stated that the scientific method is a process used by 'scientists'.

I feel, and later read, that the scientific method can be linked to many everyday uses that are not always conducted in a lab. I can see the basic thought, testing and trial process in people when they are faced with something that they are un-clear what the outcome is going to be. Let me explain by breaking down the 4 major steps.1.' Observation and description of a phenomenon or group of phenomena'. In this case you as a 'scientist' need to pick a topic that interest you and develop a question that could be answered by your.Scientific Method In Our Daily LivesTotherowFSC300U9Final8/7/13In today’s society we use science without even knowing it, because we don’t relate what wedo, where we go, and things that happen to science much less how the scientific method is usedin everyday life.

The scientific method gives us a precise answer to investigative questions andprecise answers to those questions. Because of science our children and grandchildren will studythe findings in our research of our day and learning more scientist study the world around them.There are 5 steps to the scientific method:1. Make observations.2. Propose a hypothesis.3. Design and perform an experiment to test the hypothesis.4. Analyze your data to determine whether to accept or reject the hypothesis.5.

If necessary, propose and test a new hypothesis.By using these steps we can make accurate conclusions instead of assumptions form thediscovery of DNA February 28, 1953, by Watson and Crick who made history at CambridgeUniversity in the Cavendish Laboratory. It’s because of this discovery that cold case files havebeen closed and the criminal behind bars and the families can be at rest now.We will be looking at two scenarios in using the scientific method in everyday life. The firstone is: You spend. Scientific Method Study of Plants.Biology 100.The Scientific Method is a series of steps used to basically form an opinion and test that opinion. The method steps include, observation, research, creating an educated guess, or hypothesis, testing that hypothesis, analyzing the test results, and recording the results as true or untrue. If testing of the hypothesis results in disproving it, the steps will begin again with a new hypothesis (Science Buddies, 2002-2012). One can easily follow the steps of the Scientific Method with a study of how plants respond to light.To conduct an experiment regarding plants’ response to light one would first see that a plant is leaning one way or the other and make a guess as to why that is happening.

My hypothesis is that the plant is leaning toward the light because it needs the light to grow. To test this theory I would buy twelve plants. I would place a group of three plants in the center of a closet with a grow light directly above them.

I would place another three plants in a closet with a grow light to the left of them, and an additional group of three plants with a grow light to the right of them. I would place the final group of three plants in a closet with no light. Prior to placing the plants I would label and take pictures of each plant. Scientific method is a process that outlines a number of principles for answering questions. Many people in day-to-day situations use scientific method. For example, if I were to try to start my car and it doesn't work, my first reaction would be to think of reason my car is not starting.

This is just a brief example of scientific method. The principles in Scientific method should be used in an orderly manner to answer your questions. Scientific method lets people research true things as well as false.

There is no guessing when using Scientific method it is completely natural. From my military career I can say from experience that Integrity is one of our Five Army Values. I like to think the Scientific method is having entire integrity, due to the fact that it is this method of discovery, and justification for that discovery, which must be accomplished entirely with integrity (www.scientificmethod.co.uk).Scientific method consists of five steps: observation, hypothesis, experiment, conclusion and scientific theory. You must identify your problem when doing observation. Second you must gather as much information about the problem as possible. Third you want to form a hypothesis.

A hypothesis is an unproved explanation for.SCIENCE TEST #1 SEPTEMBER 2013I. SCIENTIFIC METHODa.

The scientific method steps are:1. Problem or question2. The scientific method is a logical organized mechanism for identifying and researching a problem and devising a strategy for solving it.c. In the problem or question step, the researcher must decide what it is that you will be studying what you wish to learn.d. The hypothesis is an educated guess. It involves researching the problem and finding out what other people have learn, and using that information to help device an answer.e. The experiment step is about the materials you need to used and the procedures.f.

The procedure is the steps to perform the experiment.g. The data is about pictures, graphs, tables, charts, drawings, diagrams and surveys.h. In the conclusion you are going to write if your hypothesis was right or wrong with the information you found.i. The experiment procedures in the scientific method is:ExperimentvariablesgroupsDependentIndependentExperimentalcontrolStays the sameCan be changedChange by scientistRespond to the changed made by the independent variableCompare & ContrastCause &.Title: Scientific MethodObjective:1) To carry out an experiment that use proper scientific method.2) To application the scientific method in experimental study.3) To study Tribolium behavior.Methodology:a) Specimen’s External AnatomyThe specimen was obtained.

The shell and body was examined with unaided eye and magnifying lens. The shell shape, color and texture was examined too. Number of legs, antennae, posterior appendages or brood pouches was observed. The outline of specimen was drawn.b) Specimen’s motionThe specimen’s was watched underside as the specimen moving up a transparency surface. The action of the feet and any motion was observed. The behavior of specimen also been observed.

The specimen then allow to crawl on the hand and the feels and acts was been observed. Then the specimen was placed on a graduated cylinder. The different angle of cylinder and position of specimen was determined. The specimen was place on a meter ruler. The stopwatch are used to measure the time it takes to move.

Is The Scientific Method Reliable

Results was recorded in the table.c) Specimen’s reaction to common substancesThe substances was chosen from powders and liquids. An expected hypothesis was recorded. The actual experiment was carry out to prove the hypothesis.Results:a) Specimen’s External Anatomy.