1. Scientific Method
January 11, 2006

2. How do we know things? Tenacity Intuition Authority Rationalism
Empiricism
Science

3. Tenacity Habit or possibly superstition
Example: “Only alcoholics can counsel other alcoholics”
Exposure: The more we see something the more we like it
Tenacity
Make no guarantee of accuracy
Has no mechanism for error correction

4. Intuition
An approach that does not utilize inference or detailed reasoning
No way of determining what is accurate vs. inaccurate
Can be very helpful in suggesting an hypothesis
But can be very misleading….

5. Authority Accepting knowledge because of respect for the source
Some types of authority
Government
Parents
Religion
Employer
No way to validate or question the knowledge
Not the same as asking an expert – we can accept, reject, or challenge the statements of an expert.

6. Rationalism Knowledge through reasoning Logical deduction
Assume knowledge is correct if correct process is used.
Important for theory and pure math.
Also logic puzzles like Sudoku
Rationalism is useful to arrive at an hypothesis – then use scientific method to test hypothesis.

7. Example of Rationalism
Premise:
All dogs like chewing on bones
Lassie is a dog
Conclusion
Therefore Lassie likes chewing on bones

8. Some Logical Fallacies
Ad hominem (directed at the person)
Ad antiquitatem (to tradition)
Ad ignorantiam (to ignorance)
Ad logicam (to logic) aka “straw man”
Ad miscericordiam (appeal to pity)
Ad populum (appeal to public)
Ad numerum (appeal to numbers)

9. Some More Logical Fallacies
Complex questions
“Have you stopped beating your wife?”
Cum hoc ergo propter hoc
“With this, therefore because of this”
Nearly identical to: post hoc ergo propter hoc
After this, therefore because of this
Mistakes correlation for causation
Red herring
Tu quoque
“You too”
Defending an error in one’s reasoning by pointing out the opponent made the same erro.

10. Empiricism Knowledge through experience
“I have experienced thus it is true…”

11. Science
Testing ideas empirically according to a specific set of procedures that is open to public inspection
Based on objectively observed evidence
Sans personal beliefs, perceptions, biases, attitudes or emotion

12. Scientific Method

13. Scientific Method Step 1: Observation Make an observation
Most people in Florida with HIV/AIDS have financial difficulties.
Inductive reasoning – based on observation, make a general statement
People with HIV/AIDS have difficulty maintaining employment and medical benefits.

14. Scientific Method Step 2: Form an hypothesis Explain you observation
Basically, this is your generalization from Step 1, but it may be more refined.

15. Scientific Method
Step 3: Use hypothesis to generate a testable prediction
Deductive reasoning: make a specific prediction based on your hypothesis
Example: “When given a choice between two equally competent employees, one with HIV and the other without, most employers would hire the individual that is not HIV positive than the one who is HIV positive.”

16. Scientific Method Step 4: Design the study The most creative part
Who are your participants
Design: experimental, quasi-experimental, post-hoc, cross-sectional, longitudinal?
This should be in part directed by the hypothesis or research question.

17. Scientific Method Step 5: Conduct the study Record what happens
Make systematic observations

18. Scientific Method Step 6: Perform hypothesis testing
Analyze you data with appropriate statistics
Use the observations to support, refute, or refine your hypothesis.
Example: “Employers in the skilled trades are less likely to hire an individual that is HIV positive versus employers of unskilled or professional workers.”

19. Scientific Method Science is empirical Science is public
Science is objective

20. Scientific Method Being a scientist is not related to what you study…
…only HOW you study it!