Caducio, Kayezelle V.
September 4, 2023
Module 2
SCIENTIFIC METHOD, AIMS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH
AS A SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITY :
Assess
Answer the following questions.
1. What are the steps of scientific inquiry / method?
The scientific method consists of five steps, which are as follows:
Problem identification and definition: The researcher expresses the identified problem
in such a way that it can be solved through experimentation or observation.
Hypothesis formulation: It enables an intelligent guess for problem resolution.
Hypothesis implication via deductive reasoning: Here, the researcher deduces the
implications of a suggested hypothesis, which may be true.
Evidence collection and analysis: The researcher is expected to test the hypothesis's
deduced implications by collecting relevant evidence through experimentation and
observation.
Verification of the hypothesis: The person conducting the study later checks to see if
the evidence supports the hypothesis. If it supports the hypothesis, it is accepted; if it does
not, it is rejected, and it is later modified if necessary.
2. Explain how scientific method relates theory development?
The scientific method is the process of establishing facts objectively through testing and
experimentation. Making an observation, developing a hypothesis, making a prediction,
carrying out an experiment, and finally analyzing the results is the basic process. The
scientific method's principles can be applied in a variety of fields, including scientific
research, business, and technology.
The scientific method entails developing hypotheses from theories and then testing them.
If the results agree with the theory, the theory is supported. If the results are inconsistent,
the theory should be revised and new hypotheses developed.
3. What is theory? What are the principles to be considered while stating a theory?
A theory is a plausible hypothesis supported by substantial evidence, whereas a principle
is a scientific law proven beyond reasonable doubt. It is a rational type of abstract thinking
about a phenomenon or its outcomes. Contemplative and rational thinking are frequently
associated with processes such as observational study or research. Theories can be
scientific, non-scientific, or belong to no discipline at all. A theory is a hypothesis or a set
of ideas intended to explain something, particularly one based on general principles
unrelated to the thing to be explained.
A proposition or value that serves as a guide for behavior or evaluation is referred to as a
principle. In law, it is a rule that must or should be followed if possible, or it can be an
unavoidable result of something, such as natural laws or the way a system is built.
The primary distinction between theory and principle is that the former is a scientifically
credible general principle that explains a phenomenon, whereas the latter is a fundamental
truth, rule, or law. While theories can explain various phenomena, principles guide the
entire society because they are the foundation of every law and system.
If you refuse to do something on principle, it is because you have a strong belief in it. In
contrast, if you agree with something in principle, you agree to the idea in general, even if
you don't know the details or whether it will be possible. In philosophy and mathematics,
a principle is a fundamental law or assumption. A principle is fundamental in the sense
that it cannot be derived from other principles, whereas laws and rules can.
In other words, a basic principle is one that can be deduced from other truths; a
fundamental principle is one of basic truths or legal assumptions; and scientific principles
are general scientific laws that explain how things happen or work.
A rule for assigning philosophical probabilities is the principle of indifference. In the
absence of relevant evidence, agents should distribute their credence equally among all
possible outcomes under consideration, according to the principle of indifference.
The principle of sufficient reason states that everything must have a reason or a cause. It
is an open question whether the principle of sufficient reason can be applied
to axioms within a logic construction like a mathematical or a physical theory, because
axioms are propositions accepted as having no justification possible within the system.
4. Explain the relationship among Science, Education and Educational Research?
Science aids in the discovery of the reality behind the phenomenon. It is a method for
acquiring insight rather than a particular topic of study. Its primary functions are as follows:
- to come up with a theory. - to infer an idea from that theory.
Scientists collect data using a method of observation and develop theories using a rational
approach.
Scientific research demonstrates a method for solving life's problems. It is a dependable
tool for knowledge advancement. It is treated as a science because it is systematic and
methodical. It also aids in determining the truth behind the knowledge. It provides methods
for improving the process and product quality. Furthermore, science and research must
work together to solve the problem.
Education is considered an art because philosophy provides a solid foundation for
education. However, scientific progress shifts education away from art and toward
science.
Precision and exactness are hallmarks of science. It is hardly affected by any variable.
However, because education is a social science with many variables, it is difficult to be
precise. Educational research seeks to scientifically improve the educational process.
However, because education is softening from multivariable, it cannot be as precise as
physical sciences. It is educational research if the study is systematically designed to
achieve educational goals. All three elements. (Science, education, and educational
research) all share a common basis in the need for reliability and accuracy.
