The Scientific Method Of Enquiry
Science has served humanity well regarding improving our way of life. We have applied science to create goods and services which we can not imagine living without using them.
There’s a misconception about science which I would like to address in this blog post. There’s the mistaken view that science is a body of facts about the world around us. Some people think that science is an alternative conception of the World compared to say religion. But that is not what science is all about. Science is a method of asking questions about the natural phenomena which we observe. For example, when a hurricane occurs, we ask questions of what may be causing it?
Science has already asked those questions, but we continue to ask. We have some answers, but we never stop asking and observing for changes to what we already know. Our answers are not sacrosanct. The answers change in light of new evidence. Every time we ask questions we make a prediction. We collect data while testing the hypothesis.
The science life cycle involves asking questions, forming hypotheses, answering the questions, analysing the results, and asking more questions. Every answered question brings forth more questions. It’s about the process, not the result. The process of enquiry is more exciting and mysterious than the answers. The current answers may be correct, but they can change if we ask new questions and collect new evidence obtained or better methods of measuring invented. Scientists don’t care about facts; they love questions.
I have been advised not to become religious about science, and I think people who say that don’t understand science. They look at science as a body of facts which say one thing while religion says the opposite. What they realise is that the scientific facts are always in constant change. But why is this the case? It is because science is always questioning itself. It follows a process of continuing discovery. New evidence and new methods of measuring uncover better facts.
Why do measure physical quantities in science? When we observe a physical phenomenon, we have no proof based way of describing it. The first thing we want to do is to quantify it. So we need to think about the variables or what is changing about the phenomenon. We have to choose which variable we will change and which one we will measure in trying to answer the question we have and to test the hypothesis that we have suggested.
Scientists focus on the process of finding solutions and do not dwell the answers themselves. The answers are not an end but a part of the process. The process is what makes scientists wake up every morning and work late.
We see the benefits of scientific discovery, but we take a lot of things for granted if we are born into them. Our children are growing up with smartphones and the internet. It does not occur to them that as children, we watched these ideas as science fiction renderings on Star Trek. We never imagined that these contraptions would be a reality in our lifetime.
Technology has been moving quickly due to the democratisation of information. We have access to the resources which help us express our innovations. These resources are available thanks to science. If you want to see the results of scientific research and development, look no further than the gadget you’re using to read this blog post or this book. This article will be part of chapter 9 of the book that I’m publishing at the end of September 2017. Also look at the life you live, the electricity and tap water system, the sewage system, telecommunications all the luxuries we take for granted today.
The amazing thing about people who deny the impact of scientific research and development is that they are using the applications of science to express their views. I understand that we all have biases due to our different backgrounds and upbringings. Even scientists are affected by bias. The scientific method of enquiry pushes our biases out of the way of appreciating science.
Some people say that science does not have all the answers and that is true. But science is not about answers; it’s about questions. Not having all the answers is good for the future of science and the scientific method of enquiry. We say we don’t have the answers yet. We are working on it. Once you understand that it’s a process, then you stop stressing and expecting to find all the answers. In fact, you can also use the scientific method of enquiry to find your answers. The resources for scientific research and development are available for scientists who want to work from home.
The countries that have invested heavily in scientific research and development have excelled economically. It is not a coincidence. Science helps us to innovate and create products and services that improve our lives. The American government has a research and development arm called DARPA. This company is responsible for most of the technology we are using today including the internet. They develop military technologies which innovators commercialise at some point. Satellite navigation exists today thanks to DARPA.
The agricultural and industrial revolutions have come and gone. The countries which embraced the innovations went ahead with developing their economies and created new jobs. Now we have a revolution taking place in genetics, nanotechnology, and robotics. The countries which are investing in these technologies will be able to drive economic growth and development. These countries will always be ahead economically. They become the manufacturers of products and services for the global marketplace.
African governments should begin to take science and technology more seriously. If they don’t, Africa will continue to import essential goods and services. It starts with our attitude to science. It’s not a choice; it’s a must. Unfortunately, we are still grappling with political issues, and there’s no space for science, technology, and entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs apply discoveries in science and technology to create new goods and services which they can sell to the rest of the world. It is the scientific method of enquiry which makes all this possible.