Reduction and construction in science Michael A. Ferenczi, Head of Year 4

What is the Scientific Method?

Finding the truth By means of falsifiable hypotheses, and testing them against data.

What is the Scientific Method? Difficult to hypothesize about unobservable phenomena

Scientific Theory 1. Conduct of scientific inquiry 2. Development of knowledge - What is knowledge ? Theory Development: Parsimony, falsifiability Hypothesis generation Hypothesis testing cycle Critical thinking skills: analysis, inference, synthesis Falsifiability: The theory could be shown to be wrong by applying the Appropriate test or methodology. Parsimony: A good theory explains a lot, but requires little information. Do we need to see to believe? Major concepts are measured indirectly by their consequences on the observable world (enzyme activity – enzyme kinetics).

Vocabulary! Data: collected information about specific characteristics Variables: size, shape, weight, temperature, age, gender Causality – to be demonstrated Link <> cause Assumptions

Theory refinement:

Data: collected information about specific characteristics Continuous circle of theory generation, hypothesis generation, data collection, hypothesis testing. Results of hypothesis tests are used to refine the theory or to create a new theory. New or supplementary data is collected, perhaps with refined measurements and the cycle repeats. Old theories do not disappear easily. The new theory has to be very strong to replace the old one.

Classification Classification, e.g. giving a process a name Once a object or process has been classified (by the first authors), it becomes very difficult to change the classification

Many accepted therapies exist:

Homoeopathy Neural Therapy Traditional Chinese Medicine phytotherapy Anthroposophical medicine acupuncture, aromatherapy, colonic irrigation, iridology, crystal medicine

Has all of conventional medicine been thoroughly tested by modern scientific methods?

Has all of conventional medicine been thoroughly tested by modern scientific methods? Traditional studies: Randomized, blind studies, with patients divided into clearly defined groups: heart function criteria, asthma, cognitive test scores. Chinese medicines appeal because they are made of natural ingredients. Animal and vegetable. Many ingredients found in Chinese medicines Dosage (e.g. for children) Interactions of medicines?

Reduction and Construction in Science: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Reduction and Construction in Science: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Sudden cardiac death in young people Runs in families Why? Many causes, same pathology and outcome ? Deconstruction : identification of many different gene defects Reconstruction: Devising a unifying theory e.g. epigenetic modifications