W1-CourseModule-Formation of Scientific Knowledge PDF

[Science Technology and Society] 1 [Formation of Scientific Knowledge] Formation of Scientific Knowledge This module starts with th...

[Science Technology and Society] 1 [Formation of Scientific Knowledge] Formation of Scientific Knowledge This module starts with the stages toward the acquisition of scientific knowledge and ends with responsibilities of scientists to the society. The module covers the experimentation on animals and humans and its ethicality, the application of science to technology and of technology to science, the sociopolitical influence on science and the intellectual property dispute, biopolicy, conflicts in scientific study, and research data recording. Read through the text more than once in order to grasp the key details of the lesson.. Facets of Science Science may be defined as a “body of organized knowledge” that has been accumulated through research and that serves as a tool for solving problems, a learning theme, a cultural resource, or a social enterprise which needs physical facilities (Ziman, 1985). In this regard, scientific investigations are geared towards obtaining new information for short-term, long-term, immediate or future use in various fields, including economics, agriculture, industries, and education, or for publication in scholarly journals, encyclopedias, reference books and textbooks, and so forth, across several areas of study, for example, biology, psychology, geology, chemistry or physics. As presented below, principles or concepts are used to explain or describe the features or aspects of science. These are the discovery science, academic science, industrial science, science as a social enterprise, and science as a cultural resource. Thus, science is multifaceted, for it is an engagement with investigated information and phenomena in the context of society, education, economics, industries, politics, and culture. 1. Discovery science The formation of scientific knowledge starts from the works of scientists that leads to discovery of novel (new) information explaining or describing a phenomenon. Through systematic methods, the data relating to the discovery is rigorously examined for validity prior to its publication as historical knowledge for addressing a corresponding economic, social, or political problem, issue, or necessity. 2. Academic science From the territory of science, scientific knowledge is passed on to the world of technology. 3. Industrial science Course Module  Technology that emerges from scientific knowledge serves as an instrument to solve practical problems in areas of sociology, military, commerce, or industry. 4. Science as a social enterprise/institution Scientists have a social responsibility in their quest for novel knowledge, while the society interacts with science and are becoming increasingly concerned about its impact to both society and culture. In this regard, the community of scientists communicate with one another in order to arrive at a consensus of opinion as to the validity or truthfulness of publicized outcomes of scientific investigations, while the community of learners examine such publications through a variety of media, such as books and scholarly journals. 5. Science as a cultural resource Scientific knowledge influences cultural beliefs and values. Dimensions of Science 1. Cognitive/Philosophical Dimension Scientific knowledge is spread, for instance, through scholarly publication, which brings about the historical dimension, as the pieces of scientific knowledge are stored and organized in an archive to serve as a bridge to future discoveries. 2. Sociological/Communal Dimension Scientific knowledge is addressed to a specific segment of society, for example, the scientific researchers. 3. Psychological Dimension The scientific information has a psychological relevance to its author or discoverer who has an intellectual authority over the information and who deserves the recognition for bringing about novel knowledge which is related to the cognitive status of the research outcome that the information presents. Research Toward Scientific Information The stages of obtaining scientific knowledge are: 1. Describing the natural or physical world or event through expert observation 2. Making generalizations about an observed phenomenon 3. Examining patterns of facts derived from observation 4. Using research instruments to measure and interpret data collected from investigation 5. Conducting a purposeful, contrived (designed), empirical (real-world or experience-based), and relatively original experiment 6. Formulating scientific laws or rational (logical) generalizations based on the outcome of the experimentation  [Science Technology and Society] 3 [Formation of Scientific Knowledge] 7. Presenting an explanation for the formulated scientific laws or rational generalizations, which can be (a) a cause-and-effect relationship, (b) a model for the investigated phenomenon, or (c) a theory 8. Subjecting the rational generalizations or scientific laws to investigation and review by other members of the scientific community for evaluation 9. Interpolating over the evaluated information for consideration as a scientific frontier (fresh discovery) or as a support or addition to an already established or widely accepted knowledge 10. Acknowledging the verity (trueness) of the scientific knowledge Glossary Science – is a body of organized knowledge that has been accumulated through research and that serves as a tool for solving problems, learning theme, cultural resource, and social institution, which needs physical facilities (Ziman, 1985). Phenomenon (pl. phenomena) – a situation or event that can be perceived by the senses (http://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/american/phenomen on). Model – a descriptive statement of how something works. (http://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/american/model_1# model_1__18). Theory – an explanation of why or how something occurs; a set of principles on which a particular subject or occurrence is based. (http://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/american/theory). Cognitive – recognition and comprehension of things. (http://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/american/cognitive). References Lecture Reference: Ziman, J. (1985). An Introduction to Science Studies: The Philosophical and Social Aspects of Science and Technology. NY: Cambridge University Press. PDF. Reading Activity Reference: Kramer, D. (2015). Reducing carbon: a bacterial approach. Bio 2.0. Scitable. Nature Education. Retrieved from http://www.nature.com/scitable/blog/bio2.0/reducing_carbon_a_bacterial_approa Course Module ch Reading Assignment Reference: Norrgard, K. (2008). Human Subjects and Diagnostic Genetic Testing. Nature Education. Retrieved from http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/human- subjects-and-diagnostic-genetic-testing-720