Modern Science: Characteristics, Concepts, and Explanations
Specific Characteristics of Modern Science
Galileo Galilei inaugurated a new way of making and understanding science. Galileo addressed the same problems that had concerned other scientists before him, but he did this in a radically different and revolutionary way, with two key characteristics:
- Experimentation: Galileo was aware that some of his hypotheses were not observable in everyday life, so he could only confirm them by creating an “ideal situation,” an experiment, in which disturbing elements
Building a Theoretical Framework: Concepts & Utility
Wiersma’s Model Summary
WIERSMA, an excellent way to summarize a model:
- Citation or bibliographic data
- Research problem
- Subject
- Research procedures
- Findings and conclusions
Building a Theoretical Framework
HOW to build a theoretical framework?
The theoretical framework depends largely on 2 factors: what we reveal in the literature review and the approach chosen.
Literature Review Outcomes
The literature reviewed REVEALS:
- There is a fully developed theory with plenty of empirical evidence.
- There are several theories
Axiomatic and Hypothetical-Deductive Methods in Science
Axiomatic Method
The axiomatic method aims for axiomatization, applying rigorously in formal sciences like logic and mathematics. It offers advantages in physical sciences and serves as an ideal in other knowledge branches. Complete objectivity is unattainable; no domain achieves total objectivity.
The idea of axiomatizing knowledge, present in Aristotle and mathematics, has been extended to logic and physics. Interest in axiomatization has grown.
An axiom signifies “recognition of validity,” representing
Read MorePeriods in Science History, Methods, and Differences
Periods in the History of Science
The history of science can be divided into distinct periods, each with unique characteristics:
Ancient Science
Ancient science is closely tied to ancient philosophy. It can be further divided:
- Pre-Socratic Philosophy: Represented by figures like Thales and Pythagoras, science was theoretical, focusing on physis (nature).
- Classical Period: Shifted towards a more practical approach, focusing on humans and their lives, setting philosophy aside.
- Hellenistic Period: Science
Effective Interview Techniques: Strategies for Qualitative Research
Effective Interview Techniques for Qualitative Research
Interviews are usually audio recorded, although some research projects may require video recording, such as some group interviews. This doesn’t mean that researchers no longer take notes, but it is an alternative used when a respondent explicitly denies permission to be recorded. In these cases, the interviewer’s memory becomes crucial. When the issues are common and accessible, there are generally no problems with audio recording. It is recommended
Read MoreScientific Worldviews: Ancient, Modern, and Current
Scientific Worldviews
The sociologist Max Weber used the term disenchantment of the world to explain the transformation implied by the rise of science in the relationship of man with reality. Man is no longer the center of Creation. Science and philosophy offer an explanation, answering why phenomena occur. This explanation of the universe creates a consistent image, compatible with known phenomena, determining both the essential components of reality and the laws governing them. These explanations
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