Explore BrainMass

Explore BrainMass

    Scientific Inquiry

    In times gone by, science existed to describe the natural world, leaving the explanation of theses facts to theology or metaphysics. However, as great thinkers developed their methods of scientific inquiry over the years, they strove to explain as well as describe and predict natural phenomena. Modern scientific inquiry is the process of finding and explaining patterns in the world using an evidence-based approach.

    Unsurprisingly, the modern method grew from seeds planted by the ancient Greeks, particularly Aristotle and his Classical Model. This model centers around abductive, deductive, and inductive inference as well as the use of analogies to promote understanding. From the 1920s to 1950s in Europe and North America, many philosophers and scientists (many falling into both categories) began to take ideas of scientific inquiry in a new direction out of concern for the methodology's validity and influence on society. This new model is known as logical empiricism, and it persists to today. This movement reshaped the way society thought of a wide range of issues, but mainly focused on putting greater emphasis on evidence and mathematical and logical analysis of that evidence in order to strip science of any lingering mysticism. It put forth a model for research with clear steps taking one from a sensible hypothesis through a repeatable experiment with detailed analysis of the data collected in a manner that allowed the conclusion to be as solid as possible.

    Scientific inquiry process chart - EdQuest Resources

    In addition, best practice guidelines were drawn up for all sorts of things. For example, see the abbreviated criteria for choosing a good theory below as outlined by Colyvan in The Indispensability of Mathematics1:

    1. Simplicity/Parsimony - Given two theories with the same empirical adequacy, we generally prefer that theory which is simpler both in its statement and in its ontological commitments.
    2. Unificatory/Explanatory Power - ...we... require that a theory not simply predict certain phenomena, but explain why such predictions are expected. Furthermore, the best theories do so with a minimum of theoretical devices.
    3. Boldness/Fruitfulness - We expect our best theories not to simply predict everyday phenomena, but to make bold predictions of novel entities and phenomena that lead to fruitful future research.
    4. Formal Elegance - ...our best theories have aesthetic appeal. ...we rule out ad hoc modifications to a failing theory.

    Perhaps the most important thing, philosophically speaking, about today's form of scientific inquiry is that it is conducted with the understanding that none of it is concrete. Someone who truly understand the spirit of modern scientific inquiry understands that no theory is safe from being revised or rejected if new evidence is uncovered which refutes it. 'Bill Nye the Science Guy', an iconic figure in many childhoods, embodied this philosophy during a debate on creationism vs. evolution; when asked what could change his mind, he responded simply "[w]e would just need one piece of evidence2".

    Bill Nye - Ed Schipul

     

     

    References:
    1. Cloyvan, Mark, (2001). 'The Role of Confirmation Theory'. In (ed), The Indispensability of Mathematics. 1st ed. New York, USA: Oxford University Press. pp.78-9.
    2. Katayama, Devin (2014). Science Guy Bill Nye Debates Ken Ham. [TRANSCRIPT, ONLINE] Available at: http://www.npr.org/2014/02/05/271873763/science-guy-bill-nye-debates-creationist-ken-ham. [Last Accessed 8/3/2014].

    © BrainMass Inc. brainmass.com March 19, 2024, 1:54 am ad1c9bdddf

    BrainMass Solutions Available for Instant Download

    Quantitative Article Review: Introduction

    I assume that the article l attached is a quantitative paper, if not let me know so i can attach others . Critical analysis of the introduction? does the introduction drive the study? Authors assumptions and your assumptions? how might you revise the research questions or improve the questions ?

    Hermeneutics, Phenomenology & Philosophical Assumptions in Research

    I am confused about Phenomenology and Hermeneutics. I need some thoughts notes about the differences between the two, as well as help with analyzing the ontological, axiological, epistemological, and methodological tenets or assumptions about them. What are the challenges and strengths of phenomenology and hermeneutics in shapi

    Ethical Principles in Organizations

    1. How would an organization change its ethical policies as result of external pressure? Provide example 2. How could an organization benefit from applying ethical principles and how can these principles be used? 3. In any company there will be legal and ethical problems. Explain the differences and relationships between them.

    Analyzing and Evaluating Research Questions

    Article A. Grant, A.M., & Gino, F. (2010). A little thanks goes a long way: Explaining why gratitude expressions motivate prosocial behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 98(6), 946-955. doi: 10.1037/a0017; In a least 250 or more with references: Evaluation the article Grant, A.M., & Gino, F. (2010). A littl

    Assessing and Recommending Quantitative Research Designs

    How can I consider the quantitative research plan for my research questions, hypotheses, and variables. What kind of design would you recommend for my plan? What is the rationale for this choice? What is your rationale for NOT selecting another design? What threats to validity I must consider and avoid with my design? How mig

    EBP evidence based practice

    Hello I need to write a paper and need some information before I can start. My paper needs to be 10 pages so I need to get started with some general info soon. Thank you for your help. My paper will be on EBP evidence based practice. Please provide references so I can do additional research. What does critical thinking ha

    Doing a perfect research

    According to Griffiths there is no hope of doing perfect research (1998, 97). A normal human being loves growth, development, progress etc. and is incessantly looking for a way to attain to certain heights. This is exactly what I call "a practical or basic/fundamental research". Any type of scientific research has its roots in t

    Practice of research

    Describe the critical elements of the research process, addressing the importance of carrying out the following research steps. Limit your response to 100 words. Make sure to base the responses on at least one current scholarly sources or an article from peer-reviewed journals. (Element: Collecting data)

    Population and Sampling in Research

    Describe the critical elements of the research process, addressing the importance of carrying out the following research steps. Limit your response to 100 words. Make sure to base the responses on at least one current scholarly sources or an article from peer-reviewed journals. Element: Population and sampling.

    Practice of research

    Describe the critical elements of the research process, addressing the importance of carrying out the following research steps. Limit your response to 100 words. Make sure to base the responses on at least one current scholarly sources or an article from peer-reviewed journals. Element: Describing a study purpose

    Mixed methods for a study

    Why might a researcher choose mixed methods for a study? Find an article in a peer-reviewed journal that reports the results of an empirical research study conducted using mixed methods. Describe what the researcher(s) actually did that made it a mixed methods study. (Note: dissertations are not peer-reviewed journal articles

    Mixed Methods Rationale

    Demonstrate your understanding of the nature of the three major research methods by describing and comparing the foundations of quantitative and qualitative research for the following element. Limit your response of each item to 100 words. Make sure to base your responses on at least two current scholarly sources, of which two a

    Type of data: numeric versus narrative data

    Demonstrate your understanding of the nature of the three major research methods by describing and comparing the foundations of quantitative and qualitative research for the following element (1-2 paragraphs).

    Belief about truth: positivism and empiricism

    Demonstrate your understanding of the nature of the three major research methods by describing and comparing the foundations of quantitative, qualitative & mixed-methods research. What are the main philosophical ideas behind each method? Make sure to explore how the following epistemologies about truth apply: positivism, rationa

    Scientific Methods: Philosophical Underpinnings

    Demonstrate your understanding of the nature of the three major research methods by describing and comparing the foundations of quantitative and qualitative research for the following elements:scientific and philosophical underpinnings.

    Predictability and probability

    I have distinguished social and natural sciences on the principle that natural science, such as physics or chemistry, predict events with great reliability--virtually always. We know that two chemicals will combine to form the same compound every time, etc. On the other hand, social sciences (so-called?) are "soft sciences" in t

    Logical Positivism

    Why does "logical positivism" violate the law of non-contradiction? This question is being discussed in class next week, and I'm having difficulty understanding what exactly it is referring to as well as what the key talking points/issues are surrounding this question.. Some specific (and simple) examples would probably he

    Questions

    150 words: What would be an appropriate research question in your field that would lead to a particular qualitative design? Identify the particular type of design, and justify your choice. 150 words: What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a mixed method design?

    Scientific Laws

    Are scientific laws invented or discovered? The traditional view is that scientific laws exist "out there" in the world and that the job of the scientist is to discover them. Kant, however, claims that "the order and regularity of the appearance we entitle nature, we ourselves introduce." For him, reality is a human construct. W

    Mixed methods research

    Mixed methods research - what are the challenges of using mixed methods, what kind of research questions would be served by mixed methods, and why do researchers use mixed methods?

    Analysis of article - qualitative vs. quantitative research

    1. Identify your assigned article as quantitative or qualitative and support your assertion with an analysis of three defining characteristics. 2. Describe and critique the theoretical framework using the "Use of Theory Checklist" as a guide. 3. Analyze at least one assumption in your assigned article.

    analyze the relationship between theory and the philosophy of science

    Hello, I need to develop 2 to 3 paragraph analysis of the relationship between theory and the philosophy of science. I do not really know how to relate the two. I know that theory starts out as a hypothesis, but am unsure on how to clarify philosophy of science (scientific knowledge?) To me the philosophy of science equate wha

    Philosophy of Science

    Define and make a distinction between the following terms: philosophy of science, paradigm, epistemology, and ontology

    Research methods (qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods).

    Determine which approaches the following three philosophies of science should align with, and why: empiricism, interpretivism, and deconstructivism/critical theory. (Creswell has already aligned constructivist with qualitative and pospositivist with quantitative.)

    Research methods

    What are three major factors to consider when evaluating the scientific merit of quantitative and qualitative studies? Why is it important to review literature before identifying a research problem? What factors are most important in determining a research design? The response should be relevant to particular area of inter

    Describe the basic principles that underlie research practices.

    I need ideas and scholarly research information for the following task. Any help will be much appreciated. TASK: Describe the basic principles that underlie research practices. It must address the importance for a research in carrying out the following: 1. Identifying a broad area of inquiry. 2. Conducting a re