 What is science?

 Science is the pursuit and application of knowledge and

understanding of the natural and social world following a systematic
methodology based on evidence.
 Science is also an approach for the generation of knowledge.
 Science is progressive, rational, never-ending , creative, Critical

dynamic, open.
 Scientific methodology includes the following: Objective
observation: Measurement and data (possibly although not
necessarily using mathematics as a tool) Evidence.
 Scientific method is an approach to seeking knowledge that
involves forming and testing a hypothesis. This methodology is
used to answer questions in a wide variety of disciplines outside of
science, including business.
 .......cont

Scientific Research –
investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and
interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in the light
of new facts, or practical application of such new or revised theories or
 Scientific Method of Research
Four Steps:

1. Observation 2. Hypothesis

s
e si
th
o
yp
H

False
st
Te

True
4. Predictions 3. Testing

• If the experiments prove the hypothesis to be true, it becomes a theory or law of nature. If the
experiments prove the hypothesis to be false, the hypothesis must be rejected or modified. The
scientific method used properly should give us predictive power (to understand phenomena which
have not been tested).
 Observation – an act of recognizing and noting a fact or
occurrence often involving measurement with instruments

• Experiments performed in the laboratory.

• Experiments gained from knowledge of the
literature.

Keys to Implementation in your Research:

Sorting Observations (from Literature Searches):

Useful Not Useful (Yet!)

Contains unanswered questions which Proclaims research has explained
you think you have means of addressing everything (does not contain unanswered
questions)

Formulate Hypothesis! Note Results (in report format- optional) for

future use in confirming/denying your
hypothesis (once your hypothesis is found)!
 Hypothesis – tentative assumption made in order to
draw out and test its logical or empirical consequences
Keys to Implementation in your Research:
• Good Hypothesis can be TESTED with Experiment or Calculation.
• This requires A LOT of thought and reading--- leap from observation to
hypothesis. It is worth the effort because after thinking this through, you
are ready to go into the laboratory (which is the FUN part of research)!

Suggestions (no one can tell you HOW to do this, you have to develop this skill):

1. Couple archival journal reading with your in-class theory.

2. Couple archival journal reading with your ‘common sense’ or intuition
about the way things should be in the system that you are studying.
3. Follow a logical reasoning about what you are reading with scientific
and/or mathematical basis (use drawings and diagrams to help your
understanding).
4. Write up your thoughts and opinions either in report format (or in a
way which you can follow within one notebook).
•Experimental Testing –
to be assigned a standing or evaluation on the basis of tests
to apply a test as a means of analysis or diagnosis
Keys to Implementation in your Research:
Good TESTS will prove or disprove your hypothesis.
 Experimental Tests can be performed within the realm of
computing model with calculations and predictions can serve as
experiment and model).
Consider all alternatives. Experiment may not disprove all (but
may disprove only parts) of your hypothesis. That is still alright to
perform. Carefully note which aspects of your hypothesis this
experiment will test.
Consider the availability of instrumentation to perform your tests.

•Predictions– to declare or indicate in advance; especially :

foretell on the basis of observation, experience, or scientific reason
Further Suggestion:
 Know what has been done by others.
 Understand your field. This qualifies you to make reasonable
hypothesis about fundamental advances in the field.
 Do not strive to solve all problems in the field, look for small
advances in your field.
 Small advancements lead to critical developments.
 Prepare to report results even if hypothesis fails: False
hypothesis are also advancements in science (and will save
others time and money on repeating these experiments).
Failed hypothesis should also be used to make suggestions for
future directions (making you and EXPERT since you can
suggest new directions in your field!!!).
Steps of the Scientific Method

1. Develop a problem that can be solved with an

experiment
2. Formulate a Hypothesis: A prediction to answer the
problem or question
3. Experiment: A procedure to test the hypothesis
4. Collect and Analyze Results
5. Conclusion:A summary of what was learned during the
experiment.
6. Communicate the Results: Share the results with others
Types of science
 Ways of inference (reasoning)
INDUCTION:- is extending or
generalizing beyond the study to the
larger world. It is the basis of
exploratory research and scientific
discovery as scientists launch studies to
find out how the world works.
For example, if results of a drug trial
indicate effectiveness in a small sample
of people, we might infer that the drug
would be effective if used in the
broader population. If few adverse
reactions were found in a study, we
would infer there will be few if used on
a mass scale. The larger the samples
and the more times the investigation is
repeated, the more trust we will have in
our inductive inference.
ABDUCTION:- is coming up with the best
and most defensible explanation for a
finding. This goes beyond the data at hand
and is more of a theoretical idea. We
combine our research findings with logical
reasoning to propose explanations. This can
be the foundation of scientific theory as
scientists attempt to explain findings. We
send our sales staff to a training course and
then observe that their sales increase. Our
abductive inference is that the training
increased skill in making sales because we
believe that skill is the basis of effective
performance. However, it is possible that
our inference is wrong, and that sales skill
was not increased at all. Sales increased
because the training motivated employees
to work harder.
 Cont....
DEDUCTION:-  is used in science to test
theoretical ideas. We start with a theory which
forms the first assumption. We then collect data
to see if it conforms to the theory. If it does, we
infer that our theory is correct It is based on
simple logic that leads to a conclusion based on
assumptions.
SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION:
Is a way of explaining something we see in
the natural world that’s based on observation
and measurement.
Is known as evidence based argumentation.
Is a reseaon for something on the principle of
science.
Parts of seintific explanation
1.Claim : answer the question being studied
2.Evidence : to support the claim
3.Rational (reasoning): explains how the
evidence suports the claim.
Level of certainity in the research
Describes how strongly a fire
investigator holds an opinion or
conclusion( possible, probable)
Is certainity in evidence or quality of
evidence ( very low, low moderate,
and high)
Is a confidence that the true effect is
within a particular range or relative to
a threshold.
How do you assess certainity of
evidence?
Plan your approach to assessing
certainty
Consider importance of outcomes
Study limitation
Assess inconsistance
 Is hypothesis neccessary for Logic in scientific explanation
research? Is the science and art of reasoning
Research
well
hypothesis is clear, specific, and Is as a science seeks to discover rules
testable proposition about the outcome of the
of reasoning
research. It is not necessary for all kindes of
research. It is essential for quantitative
research but not necessary in qualitative
research at all.
Importance of hypothesis
To provide link to the underlying theory
and specific research question
It helps in data analysis and measure the
validity and reliability of the research.
It provide evidence to prove the validity of
the research
It helps to assume the probabiliy of
research failure and progress.