My Reflective Journal

FOUN 1210

SCIENCE, MEDICINE & TECHNOLOGY IN

SOCIETY

Student’s Name: Leanna Pargass

U.W.I. ID # 816002025

Tutorial Class: Tuesday’s 6-7 pm

 Name: Leanna Pargass

Session Date: 10th September 2018

Session Number:2

Session Topic: Methods – Inductive & Deductive reasoning, Hypothetico-Deductive

Approach

In this session, we examined how scientists use three models of scientific inquiry: deductive,

inductive and Hypothetico-deductive. Each approach is used depending on its individual

importance, limitations and need of individual scientist, though the deductive approach is

widely considered the preferred approach by most scientists.

"In inductive inference, we go from the specific to the general. We make many observations,

discern a pattern, make a generalization, and infer an explanation or a theory," Wassertheil-

Smoller told Live Science.” Naturally, the use of inductive reasoning is widely used in our

everyday lives since we make multiple observations every day and generalize from them.

“Deductive reasoning on the other hand or deduction, starts out with a general statement, or

hypothesis, and examines the possibilities to reach a specific, logical conclusion” according

to California State University.

For this lecture I understood most of what the scientific methods involved however I had

some difficulty in understanding the method of falsification of the hypothesis in the

Hypothetico- deductive approach. However, with further reading on Karl Popper’s

perspective I do believe that Hypothetico-deductive approach can be the only “true” scientific

method. It looked quite like the deductive approach, but its unique feature is the use of

falsifiability.
The scientific method, to me, always seem like one big concept used by many but with this

enlightening lecture, I learnt about the different approaches and their different specifications.

I also thought that the scientific method was reasonable understandable and not as

complicated as I anticipated. It is something I know that I can apply to everyday activities.

This method has completely changed my outlook on any area of study since the whole idea of

“no theory can be true” unless being disproved is quite correct.

Honestly, I began this course with the question ‘Why is this necessary to my degree? How

does this relate in any way to social work?’ floating around in my head. But I further realized

I wasn’t looking from an all rounded perspective because social work ‘draws knowledge and

theory from a variety of outside disciplines, including psychology, sociology, economics,

geography, education, and political science, in the pursuit of solving human problems’ and

scientific research and technological developments can have ‘powerful effects on individuals'

lives and society's ways of providing services.’ I’m excited to investigate the topic in further

detail to get a better understanding of science and all its approaches.

REFERENCES

Bradford, A. (2017, July 24). Deductive Reasoning vs. Inductive Reasoning. Retrieved from

https://www.livescience.com/21569-deduction-vs-induction.html

Shmoop. (2013, June 14) Inductive vs Deductive (Video file) Retrieved from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXW5mLE5Y2g&t=62s&index=2&list=LL825rJQJFT8

8vr8cvJvPYLg
 Name: Leanna Pargass
Session Date: September 17th, 2018
Session Number: 3
Session Topic: Methodology- Observations, Experimentation, Theories, Models

In this week’s session, a new lecturer blessed us with his presence. He started with a quick

introduction and proceeded to tell us the topic of the day. It was a continuation of the lecture

from a week before.

He then acquainted us with a scientific term, known as empiricism that refers to ‘the

capability of being verified or disproved by observation or experiment’, it usually is used in

data collection. Exploration of the definition and characteristics of both experimentation and

observation was done.

Observations are basically the data we record during an experiment. He carried on telling us

about the two types of observations, there is qualitative observation which is observations

using only the self or the senses to record and describe the phenomena of interest whereas

quantitative observation which are measurable observations and uses instruments to validate

its measurements. Both are needed in science.

Experimentation however is where the researcher ‘manipulates every aspect for deriving a

conclusion’ to the proposed question or hypothesis. The lecturer further told us that both

observation and experimentation is essential for producing scientific knowledge.

Thereafter we were introduced to scientific laws and theories. A scientific law do not explain

why a phenomena exists or what causes it whereas the concept of scientific theory was

suitably described as the explanation of observed phenomena. Both law and theory are based

on hypothesis.
The lecture ended with a short look at the term “model” which is the “representation of an

object or a system.” Also, about the different types of models. I remember the lecturer stating

that models can even take the form of mathematical terms.

This session was indeed educational and interesting. One thing for sure is that my vocabulary

is increasing and I’m becoming very enlightened about science and its facts.
REFERENCES

Empirical. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/empirical

Hypothesis vs Theory. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://www.diffen.com/difference/Hypothesis_vs_Theory

TED-Ed. (2015, November 19). What’s the difference between a scientific law and theory?

(Video File) Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyN2RhbhiEU

Bradford, A. (2017, July 28). What Is a Law in Science? Retrieved from

https://www.livescience.com/21457-what-is-a-law-in-science-definition-of-scientific-

law.html

Helmenstine, P. A. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-

scientific-law-605643
 Name: Leanna Pargass

Session Date: 24th September 2018

Session Number: 4

Session Topic: How Science Progresses

In this week’s session, the lecturer spoke about Science and its progression. While in class, I

honestly felt a little lost on all the scientific terminology, leading me to reading over the

slides and researching some of the words myself. I concluded that it was a very interesting

PowerPoint, I just think the lecturer needs to explain certain things differently. By doing

research, I realized it was basically about how science over time solves its problems by using

the scientific method and the precise steps taken during the process. It included how old ideas

are removed and new ideas replace those. This ensures that science progresses in a new

direction and adds information.

Scientific paradigms contain certain features that make them progressive. According to the

lecturer a paradigm shift is a change in the way of thinking and progress, means the

cumulative growth of knowledge over time. Dr Omah-Maharaj further introduced the class to

Thomas Khun’s theory of scientific progress as well as forerunners in scientific revolutions

such as Darwin or Einstein. According to Khun “Western science has undergone numerous

paradigm shifts, otherwise known as scientific revolutions.” This lead to my enlightenment

that scientific revolutions do not always occur instantly since scientists can take years to

accept a new theory because of the ridged patterns of thinking. For example, the acceptance

of Darwin’s theory of evolution.

I’ve become knowledgeable about concepts and realize how easy science can apply to

everyday life and life is experienced by humans and that’s where my future career in Social

Work lies.
REFERENCES

Kuhn, T. (1962) ‘The Structure of Scientific Revolutions’. United States of America:

University of Chicago Press.

K. (2016, October 09). What Is a Scientific Paradigm? Retrieved October 07th, 2018, from

https://owlcation.com/humanities/What-is-a-Scientific-Paradigm

Feller, I. (1970, January 01). Progress in Science. Retrieved October 07, 2018, from

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK26378/