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E-book
Author Gauch, Hugh G., Jr., 1942-

Title Scientific method in brief / Hugh G. Gauch, Jr
Published Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, ©2012

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Description 1 online resource : illustrations
Contents 1. Introduction -- The gateway into science -- Acontroversialidea -- The AAAS position on method -- Science as a liberal art -- Benefits and challenges -- Personal experience -- Seven streams -- Historical and future outlook -- 2. Four bold claims -- Rationality -- Truth -- Objectivity -- Realism -- Science and common sense -- 3. A brief history of truth -- The most elemental question -- Aristotle -- Augustine -- Medieval scholars -- Modern scholars -- Water -- 4. Science's contested rationality -- Science's auditors -- Elusive truth -- Theory-laden data -- Incommensurable paradigms -- Empty consensus -- Reactions from scientists -- The AAAS posture -- Clear targets -- 5. Science's presuppositions -- Historical perspective on presuppositions -- The PEL model of full disclosure -- Implementation of presuppositions -- Science's worldview forum -- Justification of knowledge claims -- Review of functions -- 6. Science's powers and limits -- Rather obvious limitations -- Thesciencesandworldviews -- Empirical method in the humanities -- Individual experience and worldviews -- Logical roles and diagnoses -- Review of boundaries -- Personal rewards from science -- 7. Deductive logic -- Deduction and induction -- Historical perspective on deduction -- Propositional logic -- Predicate logic -- Arithmetic -- Common fallacies -- 8. Probability -- Probability concepts -- Four requirements -- Probability axioms -- Bayes's theorem -- Probability distributions -- Permutations and combinations -- Probability fallacies -- 9. Inductive logic and statistics -- Historical perspective on induction -- Bayesian inference -- Frequentist inference -- Bayesian decision -- Induction lost and regained -- 10. Parsimony and efficiency -- Historical perspective on parsimony -- Preview of basic principles -- Curve fitting -- Crop yields -- Crime rates -- Explanation of accuracy gain -- Philosophical reflection -- 11. Case studies -- Philosophy -- Electronic engineering -- Biochemistry and pharmacology -- Medicine -- Sociology -- Economics
Summary "The general principles of the scientific method, which are applicable across all of the sciences, are essential for perspective, productivity, and innovation. These principles include deductive and inductive logic, probability, parsimony, and hypothesis testing, as well as science's presuppositions, limitations, ethics, and bold claims of rationality and truth. The implicit contrast is with specialized techniques confined to a given discipline, such as DNA sequencing in biology. Neither general principles nor specialized techniques can substitute for one another, but rather the winning combination for scientists is mastery of both. The purposes of this book are to enhance perspective on science by drawing insights from the humanities, and to increase productivity by fostering a deep understanding of the general principles of scientific method. The examples and case studies span the physical, biological, and social sciences; include applications in agriculture, engineering, and medicine; and also explore science's interrelationships with disciplines in the humanities such as philosophy and law. This book engages a great diversity of viewpoints on science, both historical and contemporary, and responds by affirming science's rationality. Informed by position papers on science from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, National Academy of Sciences, and National Science Foundation, this book aligns with a distinctively mainstream vision of science. It is an ideal resource for anyone undertaking a systematic study of scientific method for the first time, from undergraduates to professionals in both the sciences and the humanities"-- Provided by publisher
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index
Notes Title from print version record
Kursbok
English
Subject Science -- Methodology.
SCIENCE -- Philosophy & Social Aspects.
Science -- Methodology.
Form Electronic book
ISBN 9781139095082
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