For today's lesson, we focused on Chapter 4 which is known as the Confirmation chapter whereby we learnt how to describe what is confirmation and how to confirm a Scientific Theory when it is tested. Firstly, we learnt on how Science is learnt and it is through the scientific inquiry method. We were asked to list down the scientific inquiry methods in groups in the padlet link below.
http://padlet.com/norhayati_maska/BEdscientificenquirymethod
Picture 1 : Scientific Inquiry Method
Then, we also learnt about ways to confirm whether a theory is true or not and that is by looking at the internal and external virtues of a theory. Internal virtues of a theory would be entrenchment, followed by explanatory cooperation, testability, generalisation and finally simplicity. Where as, external virtues of a theory are explanation, testing and finally confirmation. I have also understood that a theory must be testable and must be tested to confirm it. Testing can be done by carrying out experiments and the results should be supported by empirical data. This will then make science believable as the data is said to be the prove of the experiment that has been carried out. Confirmation by testing against observations is the most straightforward external event in science. Some theories cannot be observed so there is need to use different devices and machines (microsope, telescope) depending on the experiment. I have also learnt that theories describes objects that are not amenable ( amenable means open to testing and criticism) to observation. This makes theories difficult to be directly compared with what we are able to observe in the world. The theories that can't be seen, their effects are still visible. However, not all theories can be observed using our 5 senses.
Therefore, a basic model of confirmation which is the Hypothetical-Deductive Model of Confirmation (H-D model) was brought up. It is said to find the deductive consequence of a hypothesis. If the hypothesis is found to be true, then the effect will happen. Observing the effect and then seeing that the phenomena that's predicted happens, enhances the credibility of the theory. But this doesn't mean that the theory is true.This model captures the core of common sense about scientific testing.
http://padlet.com/norhayati_maska/BEdscientificenquirymethod
Picture 1 : Scientific Inquiry Method
Then, we also learnt about ways to confirm whether a theory is true or not and that is by looking at the internal and external virtues of a theory. Internal virtues of a theory would be entrenchment, followed by explanatory cooperation, testability, generalisation and finally simplicity. Where as, external virtues of a theory are explanation, testing and finally confirmation. I have also understood that a theory must be testable and must be tested to confirm it. Testing can be done by carrying out experiments and the results should be supported by empirical data. This will then make science believable as the data is said to be the prove of the experiment that has been carried out. Confirmation by testing against observations is the most straightforward external event in science. Some theories cannot be observed so there is need to use different devices and machines (microsope, telescope) depending on the experiment. I have also learnt that theories describes objects that are not amenable ( amenable means open to testing and criticism) to observation. This makes theories difficult to be directly compared with what we are able to observe in the world. The theories that can't be seen, their effects are still visible. However, not all theories can be observed using our 5 senses.
Therefore, a basic model of confirmation which is the Hypothetical-Deductive Model of Confirmation (H-D model) was brought up. It is said to find the deductive consequence of a hypothesis. If the hypothesis is found to be true, then the effect will happen. Observing the effect and then seeing that the phenomena that's predicted happens, enhances the credibility of the theory. But this doesn't mean that the theory is true.This model captures the core of common sense about scientific testing.
Picture 2 : The H-D model of confirmation
Using this model, theories can also be falsified. If the hypothesis is true but effect does not happen, then the theory is false. I also learnt today about the amendments that were done to this model in order to increase the accuracy of it. We were asked to state the amendments done in a padlet. The link is attached below.–
It is said to be that if the hypothesis is true and conditions are right, then the effect will be observed. (hypothesis cannot be wrong)(conditions may be right or wrong). It is also stated that when u expect to see an effect, but it does not happen, look back at the theories (auxiliary theories), remove them, and put in new ones and test your experiment again.
The one thing that I need help in is to understand the H-D model of confirmation more precisely. It is a little confusing to me. So, I will have to read it a few times to be able to get to the core of it.
I will use these knowledge to teach science in the future in the sense that I would be able to share this knowledge with my students and at the same time enhance their understanding on this subject matter. it will also help them to expand their knowledge of the nature of science in a better way.
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