Scientific Method


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Warm-up

In pairs, discuss the following questions:

What processes do you need to describe in your field of research?

Which research methods do you use in your field of science?


I. The scientific method is a process in which experimental observations are used to answer
questions. Complete the collocations for describing the stages in the scientific method using the
words and phrases in the list below.

a hypothesis     an experiment (x2)      conclusions    data (x3)    the question


1)      Analyse _________

2)      Collect _________

3)      Conduct (or run) _______

4)      Define ________

5)      Design __________

6)      Draw __________

7)      Form __________

8)      Interpret ________


Number the stages above in the order you would normally do them.

II. Hypotheses

1.Study and comment on the criteria for judging hypotheses:

A.     Hypotheses should be stated clearly, in correct terminology and operationally.

B.     Hypotheses should be testable.

C.     Hypotheses should state relationships between variables.

D.     Hypotheses should be limited in scope.

E.      Hypotheses should not be inconsistent with most known facts.

(Burns, R.B. Introduction to Research Methods. Pearson Education 2000.)

2. Identify methodological mistakes in these hypotheses:

1.      Age determines whether a person is tolerant of social protest.

2.       Is democracy the best form of government?

3.       Reservoirs have a negative impact on the environment.

4.      Nuclear power plants are too expensive.

5.      Our universe is surrounded by another, larger universe, with which we can have absolutely
no contact.

Elaborated by Jana Kubrická, Zdeněk Hromádka


3. Complete the gaps in the text below with suitable words. Use the verb falsify to form words that
fit in the gaps. You may use affixes such as un- / -able, etc.


Karl Popper, an influential 20th century philosopher of science, thought that the fundamental
feature of a scientific theory is that it should be ______________ . That does not mean that it is
false. Rather, it means that the theory makes some definite predictions that can be tested against
experience. If these predictions turn out to be wrong, then the theory has been _______________ ,
or disproved. So a _______________ theory is one that we might discover to be false – it is not
compatible with every possible course of experience. Popper thought that some supposedly scientific
theories did not satisfy this condition and thus did not deserve to be called science at all;
rather they were merely pseudo-science.

Freud´s psychoanalytic theory was one of Popper´s favourite examples of pseudo-science. According
to Popper, Freud´s theory could be reconciled with any empirical findings whatsoever. Popper argued
that through the use of such concepts as repression, sublimation, and unconscious desires, Freud´s
theory could be rendered compatible with any clinical data whatever; it was thus ______________ .

Popper contrasted Freud´s theory with Einstein´s theory of gravitation, also known as general
relativity. Unlike Freud´s theory, Einstein´s theory made a very definite prediction: that light
rays from distant stars would be deflected by the gravitational field of the sun. Einstein´s theory
had made a definite, precise prediction, which was confirmed by observations, so his theory
satisfies the criterion of ______________ .

(adapted from Okasha, S. Philosophy of science. OUP 2002.)


III. Listening. Listen to and watch the video.  Then answer Qs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNc9vWLDSCA

1.      In the speaker’s opinion, what is important for doing science?
…………………………………………………………………………………………

2.      What is typical for the scientist regarding his/her attitude to research?
………………………………………………………………………………………….

3.      What kind of a question does the speaker pose? …………………………………………………………………………………………..

4.      What is the difference between a scientific and non-scientific hypothesis?
………………………………………………………………………………………….

5.      What sort of an experiment would the speaker do? ………………………………………………………………………………………….

6.      Why is drawing conclusions a tricky step? …………………………………………………………………………………………

7.      What is the difference between a hypothesis and a theory?
………………………………………………………………………………………….

8.      Which theory does the speaker mention which was rejected by scientists in the past?
………………………………………………………………………………………….