On the Galt’s Gulch Online
discussion board, I went around with one of my Objectivist comrades on whether
or not publication is required. I understand the “Crusoe Concept” – you do not
need other people to engage in reasoned discovery. That is why I assert that “publication” begins
with your own notebook. More to the point, it should not end there. Sir Robert Boyle
argued for publicity as the avenue of replication over 350 years ago in The Sceptical Chymist.
 |
| May-Britt Moser Nobel Prize in Physiology /Medicine 2014 |
These statements of the scientific method show a range of expression, from astute to concrete-bound. Some are from universities, one is from a business, and the rest are from interested amateurs. It is most succinctly stated in three steps by the biology department of the University of Cincinnati. The last presentation from an environmental action group is a bit on the "Zen" side, but can be useful as a guide.
"Science Buddies"
§
Ask a Question
§
Do Background
Research
§
Construct a
Hypothesis
§
Test Your
Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment
§
Analyze Your
Data and Draw a Conclusion
§
Communicate
Your Results
www.sciencebuddies.org/mentoring/project_scientific_method.shtml
 |
| Marie Curie Nobel Prizes in Physics (1903) and Chemistry (1911) |
1. Observation and
description of a phenomenon or group of phenomena.
2. Formulation of an
hypothesis to explain the phenomena. In physics, the hypothesis often takes the
form of a causal mechanism or a mathematical relation.
3. Use of the hypothesis
to predict the existence of other phenomena, or to predict quantitatively the
results of new observations.
4. Performance of
experimental tests of the predictions by several independent experimenters and
properly performed experiments.
http://teacher.pas.rochester.edu/phy_labs/AppendixE/AppendixE.html
University of California Riverside
1. Observe some aspect of
the universe.
2. Invent a tentative
description, called a hypothesis, that is consistent with what you have
observed.
3. Use the hypothesis to
make predictions.
4. Test those predictions
by experiments or further observations and modify the hypothesis in the light
of your results.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4
until there are no discrepancies between theory and experiment and/or
observation.
http://phyun5.ucr.edu/~wudka/Physics7/Notes_www/node6.html
Clermont College, University of Cincinnati
- Observe
- Question
- Test
Biology-4-Kids
- Hypothesis
- Experimentation
- Refine the Idea
- Experimentation
- Final Statement
http://www.biology4kids.com/files/studies_scimethod.html
From Norman Wilson Edmund, the founder of Edmund Scientific, arguably the premier mail order retailer of scientific supplies to the general public.
Steps or Stages of the Scientific Method
1. Curious Observation
2. Is There a Problem?
3. Goals & Planning
4. Search, Explore, &
Gather the Evidence
5. Generate Creative &
Logical Alternative Solutions
 |
| Carol W. Greider (L) and Elizabeth H. Blackburn (R) Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2014 |
6. Evaluate the Evidence
7. Make the Educated Guess
(Hypothesis)
8. Challenge the
Hypothesis
9. Reach a Conclusion
10. Suspend Judgment
11.Take Action
Supporting Ingredients
12. Creative,
Non-Logical, Logical & Technical Methods
13. Procedural
Principals & Theories
Edmund Scientific Corporation was a company based in Barrington, New Jersey, USA that specialized in supplying surplus optics and other items via its mail order catalog and Factory Store. During four decades from the 1940's to the 1970's Edmund Scientific was virtually unique in its offerings to scientific hobbyists.
-- Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Scientific_Corporation
1. identification of
problem
2. hypothesis
3. deductive reasoning-
decide on procedure: what would be observed if hypothesis was true? how can it
be tested?
4. data collection and
analysis
5. derive conclusion:
never prove a hypothesis-- confirm or fail to confirm
http://www2.selu.edu/Academics/Education/EDF600/Mod3/sld001.htm
 |
| Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1964 |
From the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair
- Be curious, choose a limited subject, ask a
question; identify or originate/define a problem. It is important that
this question be a 'testable' question - one in which data is taken and
used to find the answer. A testable question can further be identified as
one in which one or more variables can be identified and tested to see the
impact of that variable on the original set of conditions. The question
should not merely be an 'information' question where the answer is
obtainable through literature research.
- Review published materials related to your
problem or question. This is called background research.
- Evaluate possible solutions and guess why you
think it will happen (hypothesis).
- Experimental design (procedure). In designing
the experiment, it is critical that only one variable - a condition that
may effect the results of the experiment - is changed at a time. This
makes the experiment a 'controlled' experiment.
- Challenge and test your hypothesis through
your procedure of experimentation (data collection) and analysis of your
data. Use graphs to help see patterns in the data.
- Draw conclusions based on empirical evidence
from the experiment.
- Prepare your report and exhibit.
- Review and discuss the findings with peer
group/ professional scientists
- New question(s)may arise from your
discussions.
http://www.sciserv.org/isef/students/scientific_method.asp
- Make a guess. Hypothesis.
- Take a look. Observations.
- Write it down. Data.
- Make it a picture. Graphs.
- Decide what it means. Conclusions.
http://www.nceas.ucsb.edu/
PREVIOUSLY ON NECESSARY FACTS
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