What is Science? Part I

By the end of the class, you should be able to discuss… Introduction: Scientific Method & Discovery Definitions: science, research, biological research Is science truth? Approaches to knowledge Important aspects of doing science: assumptions, limitations, and empirical observation Why is science important?

Core/Basis of Science is Research

Is this what research is like? “Research is exciting, invigorating, and fulfilling work. It is also depressing, annoying, difficult, exasperating work.” K. Michael Foos Why would anyone want to do research?

Science is like a jigsaw puzzle… We’ll take more about this in class

Is the scientific method the prescribed route to success? In other words… how are discoveries made?

Making Discoveries… “Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought.” Albert Szent-Gyorgyi “But it can also involve noticing what everybody has seen but nobody has noticed. Discovery requires that we pay close attention.” Hattan & Ploufe

Guidelines are useful but there is more to discovery “We make scientific progress in unpredictable and multifaceted ways.” “An observation, previous information, accumulated experience, or older theories could spark a new explanation or hypothesis.” Valiela Science involves analytical and imaginative thought, although the first is easier to define and is a hallmark and requirement of science.

Definitions Share your definitions in your group: Science Research Biological research

Question What criteria would you use to evaluate if something was biological research?

Scenario 1 Jeff is using a technique from physics to evaluate the fluidity of different mixtures of phospholipids that can be found in cellular membranes. Biological research? - Yes - No - Depends

Scenario 2 As evidence in a criminal investigation, Beth is using PCR, a technique that can assess the DNA of organisms, to determine what microbes are found in a stab wound. She will use this information to try to identify where the knife came from.

Scenario 3 Kaneisha is evaluating two new drugs, developed to treat patients with Crohn’s Disease, to determine if they are as effective as the one currently on the market.

Try scenarios again…

Is science about finding the truth? “Many students in the sciences (to say nothing of other fields) believe that the business of science is truth and that, in science, truth is based on fact. ...” Hatton & Plouffe

Is science about finding the truth? “… But science has to do with understanding nature, not with fixed truths. This understanding is expressed in the form of theories.” “In building up its picture – its explanation – of nature, however, science always moves from the known to the unknown.” Hatton & Plouffe

Is science about finding the truth? “The danger of [the] misconception about proof is that the general public grows to view science as a collection of facts, rather than as a process. When a proven scientific hypothesis is rejected, people grow to distrust science .” Ambrose et al.

Is science about finding the truth? “All science progresses by the rejection of hypotheses. There is no such thing as proof.” Ambrose et al. What good is science if we can’t prove anything?

Approaches to Knowledge “Knowledge comes in many forms, though, and science is only one approach to its acquisition.” Lee Science Humanities - qualitative study human affairs 3. Mathematics - not nec. based real-world phenomena 4. Belief fields - religion, ethics, morality, and political ideology -faith, morality, not based on physical

Science is Empirical “[Science] relies on observation and experience. Value judgments are not scientifically measurable.” Lee “Research at first may be guided by what the scientist’s intuition suggests is the proper direction to take. Eventually, however, the scientist strives to be guided by what direct observation and experimentation reveal to be true.” Shaughnessy, Zechmeister and Zechmeister

Assumptions vs Limitations of Science

Assumptions Real world Accurately perceive Experimental observations sufficient to explain natural phenomena Principle of uniformity

Limitations Our senses & technology Biased or inaccurate perceptions - For example, it has been said that we "see" with our minds, not with our our eyes despite the common notion that we see things "objectively". Many variables and alternatives Not absolute - contingent upon evaluation of evidence - subject to modification

Is science reliable? “…despite the inherent tentativeness or uncertainty of scientific explanations… scientific knowledge is the most reliable knowledge we can have about the NATURAL world and how it works.” Nichols

is science important? List 3 reasons why science is important. Give one pro & con of refusing funding Give on pro & con of Open Access

Homework Read as assigned. Once complete: From “What kind of science… list 2 good characteristics of science and 2 questionable/poor characteristics Complete Worksheet #1 For “I won’t teach…”, read only the 1st paragraph and the Questions below the paragraph. Then answer the question, “Are these valid scientific questions?” carefully consider the word valid. Even if the questions are valid, might they make some individuals uncomfortable? Your group member will briefly summarize “Health Effects of Cell…” , but think about the topic. Why do you think science does not have conclusive answers after so many years of cell phone use.