Scientific Method
The term ‘scientific method’ is defined as a means of using different skillsets to observe and evaluate a certain occurrence or event within the universe, discovering as to how something came to be. These discoveries are concluded with empirical or measurable evidence (observational). The origins of the scientific method? The majority of those who study upon this topic would reel towards the ‘public’ faces of science today; i.e. Isaac Newton, Galileo, Aristotle, etc. However, far beyond these intellectual minds is one who really birthed the origins of the scientific method; Al-Hassan Ibn Al-Haitham, an Islamic scholar who is best known for his works on light and vision, producing forth a book dubbed ‘The Book Of Optics’ –
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Through his life time, he traversed through different theologies of scientific theories orientated around the proximity of vision and light. Present during his life time was the belief produced from the Greeks that the eyes themselves propel light rays from their oculars to allow one’s vision. However, through his experimental works on the eye, he disproved this Pseudoscience belief, producing forth a valid base theory. He presented forth the explanation that sight is a consequence from the light emanating from external sources (objects/atmosphere). However, this wasn’t the only marvelous discovery Al-Haitham had presented to the world, there were much more. Not only did he disprove the belief as well as providing the correct and proven means of how sight occurs, he also proved many other theories which were proven to be correct: presenting the ideology that the corneal area of the eye is at a curved angle and is closer to the conjunctiva, which doesn’t coalesce with the conjunctiva: He suggested that the cornea (inner surface) at the point where it links to the foramen becomes concave in conformity with the curve-like external face (outer surface), whilst the edges of the surfaces of the foramen aren’t together as one embodiment but rather are even: Endeavouring by the use of hyperbola and geometric optics to produce
The scientific method includes the following steps: asking a question, do research, make a hypothesis, test your hypothesis by doing an experiment, analyze your data, draw a conclusion, and share your results. In this book, many scientists are mentioned. Some of the scientists mentioned are doing experiments on Henrietta’s cells. For example, George Gey and William Scherer did an experiment on Henrietta’s cells to test how they reacted to the polio virus (Skloot, Location 1553). They, like all other scientists, used the scientific method in order to do this.
In conclusion, the characteristics of the scientific method are far from few. Most distinctly, science deals with the uncertainty of the unknown, attempting to make it known. Though complicated, Barry explains his beliefs on the scientific method with strong diction to show the formality of science, rhetorical questions to show the uncertainty, and logos to show the intellect of science. His rhetorical strategies help the audience understand the plethora of characteristics in the realm of
Steven Shapin proves his thesis throughout the book through the use of primary and secondary sources in his three different sections of the book. The first section is titled “What was it Known?”. In this section, he utilizes important figures such as Galileo and his findings about the heavens and the earth along with Aristotle, Newton, Descartes, Boyle, and others to explain the scientific ideas presented in this time period.
The term ‘scientific method’ means a way of discovering things whether it’d be a phenomena or trying to gain new knowledge. Furthermore a ‘scientific method’ can also be used to correct or adjust old knowledge to better support a theory with new ideas or knowledge. The use of the term ‘Scientific Method’ first came in to use during the 17th Century in between the years of 1850-1855. The general difference between science and pseudoscience is that science is based on theories which can be altered if they conflict with experiments and evidence and can be supported by experiments of scientific methods, however pseudoscience less evidence based and more based on belief and stories told by predecessors and claimed to be real but lack the evidence needed to support them. For example a difference between Darwin’s Theory and ‘Ancient Astronaut theory’ is that Darwin’s
Scientific research is methodical. Created from a desire to make the unknown known, the “scientific method” was created in the 15th century based on common sense. As Barry analysis the scientific process, he says that the unknown must be made into a tool, even against one’s own ideas and beliefs. However, that concept is tenuous, so Barry uses logical situations to present the idea.
Moreover, when studying natural phenomena, physicists have two main methods for producing scientific knowledge: the scientific method, in which the physicists
For many centuries, scientists adopted the writings of ancient scholars and the teachings of religious leaders regarding science and nature. Their conclusions based on observation, experimentation, and drawing conclusions became common practice. These common practices led to advances in the fields of chemistry, physics, mathematics, astronomy, and medicine. They also made such major changes in the study and understanding of nature that it is said to have caused a scientific revolution. (science theory)
In 972 the Fatimids founded the university known as al-Hazar in order to facilitate their pursuit of knowledge. Accompanying the university was an influx of great thinkers from across the empire including ibn al-Haytham. Recruited by al-Hakim, a Fatimid caliph, in order to control the flooding of the fertile land surrounding the Nile, al-Haytham arrived to the city from Basra. Although he was unable to reign in the flow of the mighty Nile, al-Haytham remained in the city to pursue his own discoveries. Al-Haytham’s discoveries transformed the world of optics and astronomy including the early investigation of refraction and calculus as well as the realization that light rays are absorbed rather than emitted from the eye.
160 AD - Ptolemy and refraction Roman astronomer Ptolemy writes about the refraction of light and further develops the emission theory of vision – objects are seen by rays of light emanating from the eyes. 300 BC - First writings about reflection and refraction Greek mathematician Euclid writes Optica. He asserts that light travels in straight lines and proposes mathematical formulae for reflection and refraction. 400 BC - Emission theory of vision Greek philosopher and mathematician Plato develops the emffocusission theory of vision – we see because our eyes emit straight vision beams. 984 - Ibn Sahl and refraction Persian scientist Ibn Sahl writes on burning mirrors and lenses, which sets out his understanding of how curved mirrors and lenses bend and focus light.
No oOne sought to explain or prove the “science” behind certain things. However, this would quickly change with the emergence of the scientific revolution. The basis of the revolution was the scientific method. This method tested the tradition behind science, and galvanized scientists to understand the logic behind theories and how the universe operated. The scientific method included seven steps: (1) state the problem (2) Gather Information (3) Form a Hypothesis (4) Test the Hypothesis (5) Record and Analyze data (6) State a conclusion (7) repeat the process.
What led to their disagreement was the fact that he couldn’t proof his theory. He also studied animals and their behaviour and he couldn’t understand why they act in certain ways and did certain things. He also noticed that they don’t just behave differently but also look differently for instance when he studied and collected birds and noticed that their beaks
The scientific method is a process for experimentation that is used to explore observations and answer questions. It allows psychological data to be replicated and confirmed in many instances, under different circumstances, and by a variety of researchers. (Lumen Learning). Scientists have different versions of the Scientific Method, here are the typical six parts: Purpose- What do you want to learn?
The scientific method is the process that a person follows when completing experiments. The scientific method consists of observation, hypothesis, experiment, and conclusion. Observation is viewing something interesting and wondering about it. The questions about the observation are what the experiment will be based on. The hypothesis is a statement about the expected outcome.
The second reason is that animals testing is much expensive than conducting non-animal testing. An organization called Humane Society International compared the cost of using animal testing and non- animal testing and it clearly shows the gap in the cost of these two experiments. For example, in the test of genetic toxicity, average cost gap between the animal testing and non-animal testing is about $45,000. Also in the test of non-genotoxic cancer risk, the gap between the two experiments is about $678,000. There is these huge gap between the experiments.
I strongly agree with Poppers’ views of scientific method; firstly, deduction can provide certainty to scientific theory and allow us to accept hypothesis, law and theory as provisionally approved until it is falsified by the evidence; secondly, I believe imagination is the factor that infuses the development of science knowledge because curiosity is generally enhanced by imagination and personal perception. However, I think we should not ignore induction. In my view, induction together with deduction can be used to generate scientific knowledge. From my opinion, Science is a set of knowledge that explains factors contributing to our functional universe; scientific theories build upon past knowledge and accumulate over period of time. Scientific method is the way in which science knowledge is achieved and justified.