Philosophy of science for IBA.

Tutorial 3
Dr Matteo Colombo Dr Michael Vlerick
Email: m.colombo[at]uvt.nl Email: m.m.p.vlerick [at] uvt.nl

An Introduction to Scientific Methods and Reasoning

Tutorials 2020-21
Plan for the day
 Overview of the specific
concepts and tools relevant
to the research problems
(pre-recorded)
 Small groups activities
 Research problem #1
Should data be made publicly available?

Textbook chapter 2
• Collecting and analyzing the data
– Experiments
– Non-experimental studies
• Observational studies, case studies, natural
experiments, etc.
• Types of data:
– Quantitative vs Qualitative
• Big data and data analytics
 Research problem #1
Should data be made publicly available?

Textbook chapter 3
• Data Models: regimented representation of
some data set
• From raw data to data models:
– Data cleansing, data representation and curve
fitting
 Research problem #1
Should data be made publicly available?

Textbook chapter 6
• Statistical analysis of data

Textbook chapter 8
• The role of values in science
– How to collect data, for what purpose, by whom,
sharing vs protecting data, etc.
 Research problem #2
Should science be done by companies?

Textbook chapter 1
• What is (good) science?
– Does company sponsored research bring about
conflicts of interest that threaten the objectivity of
scientific research?

Textbook chapter 3
• Choice of model can influence the interpretation
of data (cf. abstraction and idealization)
 Research problem #2
Should science be done by companies?

Textbook chapter 6
• Possible bias in statistical inference.
– Method of statistical inference, sample size,
representativeness of sample, choice of null
hypothesis and alternative hypothesis, etc.

Textbook chapter 7
• Possible bias in making causal inferences, testing
causal hypotheses and in causal modelling.
 Research problem #2
Should science be done by companies?

Textbook chapter 8
• Values are an inherent part of scientific
research.
– Can we trust for-profit companies to have the
‘right’ set of values?
• Do they have the interest of all stakeholders at heart or
merely of their shareholders?
 Research problem #3
Should science be ethical?

Textbook chapter 1
• Why is science important?
– Practical benefits! There’s an obvious ethical
component to scientific research and
development.
– Our best approach to tackling the major
challenges of our time.
• E.g. climate change
 Research problem #3
Should science be ethical?

Textbook chapter 2
• There are important ethical considerations
when setting up experiments.
• Not all scientifically sound experiments should
be carried out
– E.g. infecting a large group of people with Covid-
19 to test vaccines and treatments.
– Tuskegee syphilis study
 Research problem #3
Should science be ethical?

Textbook chapter 6 and 7

• Ethical considerations have a role in statistical
inference and causal inference
– When do we consider something statistically
significant? When do we decide there is a causal
relation?
• E.g. between smoking and lung cancer
 Research problem #3
Should science be ethical?

Textbook chapter 8
• The section on values in science is especially
relevant for this problem.
– What role should (ethical) values play in scientific
research?
Small groups activities.
You have three tasks:
1. Exchange ideas contained in the scientific and
philosophical papers you found.
2. Consider relevant concept and tools to address
your specific research question.
3. Presentations
 Exchange ideas from papers
• As a team, share the ideas contained in the scientific or
philosophical papers you found. Each member of your
team should:
1. briefly describe the papers they found to the rest of the team
2. explain the main ideas
3. explain why that paper is relevant to address your specific
question

• Individually, you should take notes about everybody’s

findings.
 Consider relevant concepts and tools

• As a team, start to consider how concepts and

tools in the philosophy of science can be
usefully applied to address your more specific
question in the light of the papers you
discussed.
 Presentations
• Brief presentations (approx. 5 min per group)
by one spokesperson per group on:
1. The research you’ve been doing.
2. What concept from philosophy of science is
especially relevant to your specific research
question.
Third Milestone.
Homework assignment for Tutorial 4.
As a team, compile one team paper.
The first page of your paper should
contain the general research problem
and your specific question, all your
names, the date of submission, and the
and the date of submission. The paper
should be in four parts:
• Part 1. Individual papers with peer feedback (as
per the previous assignment)

• Part 2. Group synthesis of the individual papers

(as per the previous assignment)

• Part 3. The statement of a specific question

related to the research problem you have been
assigned (as per the previous assignment)
• Part 4. An answer to your specific question based on the
papers you have researched and at least one concept
covered in the textbook or lectures. The answer should be
about 500 words long. Follow this structure:
a) formulate the assertion you make in response to your question,
explaining all technical concepts.
b) lay out your reasoning in support of your assertion, explain how
each step in your reasoning is related and how your reasoning
leads to your assertion.
c) describe one concrete example or case study to illustrate one
key idea in your answer.
d) provide a complete list of references at the end.
 General guideline
Your answer should provide clear definitions of
important concepts, and should apply at least
one concept or tool or method covered in the
lectures/textbook to clarify or articulate at least
one point you make.
 Submission
• One member of your team should submit your
group paper on Canvas on Sunday 14th of
November 2021 the latest.
• NOTE If you do not submit your short, group
paper by the deadline, then all team members
will receive a penalty of .5 on your (individual)
grade for the group project. If you submit your
assignment on time, you will receive a Pass.
Questions?
In our next tutorial #4
Each team will briefly present their findings
about their specific research question to
the rest of the class. The rest of the class is
expected to ask question, and to provide
feedback suggestions both on the content
of the presentation and on the presentation
itself.