The difference between Science and Technology.

Anadia Olyfveldt (1034493) University of Guyana.

9/13/2019

Today Science and technology plays a major role in the lives of many. Infrastructures in the
society has developed with the help of science and technology. The invention of the telephone
and radio services have expanded human communication. Society cannot exist without the
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industry we have today. Society needs science and technology. Science and technology are
relatively two distinct fields. According to Ernst Mayr (1982), science is a system of
generalizations, theories, and concepts which form the explanatory framework of the observed
phenomena. This means that all observations made through the lens of scientists have
explanations to describe how and why things are the way they are. This framework provokes
thoughts and questions about things such as why gravity exists, why the human eye can detect
millions of colours and how exactly water molecules connect with each other. On the other hand,
technology (the artifact and the technique) can be defined as "the organization of knowledge for
practical purposes." Therefore, in order to truly capture what science and technology entails, it is
essential to understand the historical overview of both fields.

True scientists were considered as Greeks. Egyptians and Mesopotamians collected observations
and facts but these were not developed to give rise to explanations of things in the world. This
was later done by historians until the 6th Century BC.

Technology was reproduced when the first human-like species (Homo habillis) referred to as a
skillful person, in 2.6 million years BC made sharp cutting edges from stones. The first Industrial
Revolution saw the development of steam engines to power factory machinery. Thereafter, the
second revolution saw the refinement works done by Thomas Edison (1847-1931) with his
development of electric light bulbs.2 As the years progressed, society saw the invention of
technological products such as motor cars, movies, X-rays, telephones and the 21 st century saw
gadgets such as the Blackberry and the Apple phones which fulfilled the needs of society.

Science begins with questions and uses evidence to propose explanations for observations about
the natural world. These questions surround the reasons for earthquakes and gravity. On the other
hand, technology originates in problems of human adaptations in the environment and their basic

1
“The Relationship Between Science, Technology and Society” By Danish Muzaffar
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 The difference between Science and Technology.

Anadia Olyfveldt (1034493) University of Guyana.

9/13/2019

needs. According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs which are water, food and sleep have been
susceptible to changes as a result of technological progression. Technology is therefore
overpowering human wants.

Science involves observation and experimentation whereas technology involves invention and
production. Experiments have been conducted in labs and today, it gives us an insight on the
science of the world. Furthermore, we have seen what technology has invented. These
developments include the invention of computers, machines, vehicles and much more.

Science and technology are carried out on completely different scales when they are being
discovered. This means that an experiment is carried out on a small scale by just few individuals
so as to provide its validity. For example, an experiment carried out on the electrochemistry of
metals. These experiments are then converted with the use of technology which is done in large
manufacturing factories and on a much larger scale than science. For example, the creation of
fiber optic networks for the world.

According to Springer, the nature of the output of science and technology and their impact on the
wider society is quite distinct. As it relates to science, scientific activity comprises of papers and
patents and the findings of these activities are reported in publications and may even take the
form of patents. As society evolves, the form of advertising these findings may change. This
means that the scientific activities may be published through the media. However the accuracy of
these reports becomes questionable as the media make changes to suit their needs. On the other
hand the output of technology is public and it extends or expands to a large geographical area. It
is often times tested by developers and even its users. Technology once developed is challenged
by competitive markets and in order to survive this kind of competitiveness, it must meet the
expectations of its users and as puts it pass the “public acceptance test.”3

Gerhard Rosegger, sums up the difference between science and technology quite well by saying
"While the essence of technology is application, science involves pure information, itself devoid

3
Bhaduri, S. (2003). Science, Society, and Technology: Three Cultures and Multiple Visions.
Journal of Science Education and Technology, 12(3), 303-308. Retrieved from
http://www.jstor.org/stable/40188771
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 The difference between Science and Technology.

Anadia Olyfveldt (1034493) University of Guyana.

9/13/2019

of any practical uses, least of all in the conversion of inputs into outputs. The objective of
scientific activity is discovery; the objective of technological effort is productive results."4

There is a distinction between science and technology and their concerns with the patterns of
communication among professional colleagues. Due to the economic value of certain
technologies, there are many restraints on the communication of new technologies, since they
have often been developed with large expenditures of time, money, and commercial risk. 5 Like
scientists, engineers in competing firms do communicate with each other, and even exchange
information; but the line is drawn between vital and non-vital information from the standpoint of
competition.

According to Kornhauser reports, the systems of rewards for doing science and for doing
technology is different. Status and recognition are the highest rewards in the world of science.
This means that scientists are always enthusiastic about being the first to communicate a new
finding. This notion is in keeping with Price in “The Relations between Science and
Technology” where it was stated that the more open the publication, the more private is the
property and if one is to keep it to themselves then someone else will discover it. 6
Contradistinctive to this, in technology, technologists tend to protect their secrets. This is
because technological property has market value and is protected by things such as copyrights
and patents. The discoveries are also protected against competitors.

Furthermore, the producers and consumers of the knowledge of science and technology contrasts
on many levels. The development of technology is based upon fundamental science.
Technologists then use knowledge to create products or processes.

Ultimately with respect to accuracy, the supply of quick estimates will suffice whereas in
scientific research, the failure of a given scientific prediction can be fed back into the theory
responsible for it, thereby improving it, "in the case of expert knowledge there is no theory to

4
Rosegger, “The Economics of Production and Innovation,” 112.
5
Marvin B. Mandell, "Monitoring and Evaluating New Managerial Technologies," in (Westport:
Quorum Books, 1985), 264.
6
Derek Price “the relations between Science and Technology,” Pg 59
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 The difference between Science and Technology.

Anadia Olyfveldt (1034493) University of Guyana.

9/13/2019

feed the failure into."7 Expert prognoses in technological problem-solving are typically made
"with shallow but well-confirmed generalizations" which "are preferable to risky scientific
predictions."

It is therefore the plausible deduction that both science and technology are important for society
as it aids in the fulfilment of human needs. These two fields are different in that Science involves
observation and experimentation whereas technology involves invention and production. Science
asks questions and provides evidence to explain certain things in the world, whereas technology
responds to human needs. They are both carried out on completely different scales. Science is
investigated and conducted by just a few number of individuals while technology requests a large
group of persons to produce products. The facts and evidence discovered during scientific
research are published with science but as it relates to technology, the discoveries are kept
privately as a result of the competitiveness of the market in which technology lies.

REFERENCES

7
Kornhauser, “Scientists in Industry”, Pg 77
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 The difference between Science and Technology.

Anadia Olyfveldt (1034493) University of Guyana.

9/13/2019

 Muzaffar, D. The Relationship between Science, Technology and Society.”

 Bhaduri, S. (2003). Science, Society, and Technology: Three Cultures and Multiple
Visions. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 12(3), 303-308. Retrieved from
http://www.jstor.org/stable/40188771
 Rosegger,G “The Economics of Production and Innovation,” 112.
 Marvin B. Mandell, "Monitoring and Evaluating New Managerial Technologies," in
(Westport: Quorum Books, 1985), 264.
 Price, D. “the relations between Science and Technology,” Pg 59.
 Kornhauser, “Scientists in Industry”, Pg 77.