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
[Link]
Shmoop. (2013, June 14) Inductive vs Deductive (Video file) Retrieved from
[Link]
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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 [Link]
Hypothesis vs Theory. (n.d.). Retrieved from
[Link]
TED-Ed. (2015, November 19). What’s the difference between a scientific law and theory?
(Video File) Retrieved from [Link]
Bradford, A. (2017, July 28). What Is a Law in Science? Retrieved from
[Link]
[Link]
Helmenstine, P. A. (n.d.). Retrieved from [Link]
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
[Link]
Feller, I. (1970, January 01). Progress in Science. Retrieved October 07, 2018, from
[Link]
