Abstract
In the present paper, attention is paid to the topics of scientific method and science in the everyday life. The first part of the project aims at finding what the connection between everyday life, problem-resolution techniques and scientific method is. It will be proved that scientific method is present in our everyday problem-resolution techniques. This will be shown on detailed explanation of scientific method’s steps in two separate situations. The second part answers the question of what aspects of our everyday routine are due to the development of science. The central idea of this part is that science is present in everything we do. This means that the way we live today is entirely due to the development of science. In order to show how science influences our everyday life, I will describe what it means in my casual routine. Some additional questions will be also answered in the second part.
Key words: scientific method, science, hypothesis, observation, conclusion.
Scientific Method
Part 1
The main aim of the current project is to find out what the connection between everyday life, problem-resolution techniques and scientific method is. In the human history, there was always a big difference in perception of everyday life and the world of science. It was often assumed that science was entirely separated from the business of ordinary people – what could have been the influence of science on everyday purchase of food or leisure time? It will be proved that scientific method is present in our everyday problem-resolution techniques. This will be shown on detailed explanation of scientific method’s steps in two separate situations.
The first situation is quite casual – arriving home late night and finding that you cannot switch the light on. The first thing happening in one’s mind would be the development of a logical chain of thoughts. First of all, the question of what is wrong will be asked. After asking the target question, the process of scientific method starts (Gauch, 2003). The first step would be an observation of certain aspect of the reality (Gower, 1997). In this case, I would have two observations to do. The first one is the fact that although I had turned the light on, the light did not appear. This means that because of my observation that the light did not turn on, I have asked the research question (Gower, 1997).
The second observation refers to the research and explanation of the current situation. In this case, I would start looking for the reason why the light was off. I would look around whether the light was somewhere else in the house, assuming that the problem might be of central character. At this point, I would go to the third step of scientific method – building hypothesis (Gauch, 2003). The hypothesis here would be my assumption that the problem was not just with the switcher but with the whole electricity in the house. In order to verify this assumption or hypothesis, I would have to make an experiment – the fourth step of scientific method (Gower, 1997). The experiment in this case would be trying to turn another switcher on or the lamp standing on the table in the living room.
The fifth step would be analysis of results and making conclusion (Gauch, 2003). In my case, if the light turned on, my initial hypothesis that the problem was of central nature would be proved wrong and I would be able to make a conclusion that the problem was with the bulb or the switcher was out of order. Since I would not know for sure what was the reason I would have to start another two logical chains of considerations using scientific method followed by two experiments (Gauch, 2003). If the light did not turn on, then my initial hypothesis would be proved right and I would have to go to check the fuse.
The first case shows that scientific method is applied even in the simplest situation of problem resolution. In order to make sure that this method does not apply only to a specific situation of turning the light on, the second situation refers people. A couple of times my parents were late to pick me up from school. In this case, scientific method was applied in order to find out the reason why my parents were late. So the question was “why?”. The observation started when I came out of school to find out that my parents were not waiting for me. I would look around to make sure that they were not there. I would sit on the stairs and consider a few options of why one of my parents was late. So, I was building different hypothesis. One of the possible hypotheses could have been that my mom was still at home and had to deal with some emergency. If that was my dad to pick me up, than most likely he had some additional work in the office (Gower, 1997).
Having constructed hypotheses, I would have to test them through an experiment. In each case, the experiment would be the same – making a phone call. I would call my mom on the home phone or my dad on his cell phone. If my experiment would be successful and I could reach any of my parents through phone, my hypothesis would be proved right and I would be able to make a conclusion that my parents were late because of additional things they had to deal with. The result of this experiment will also give me another conclusion. Since my mom was still at home and father at work, this meant I would have to wait another hour for one of them to pick me up. So, scientific method works, although some conclusions are more cheerful than others.
Part 2
It would be entirely impossible to understand the meaning of science without asking a simple question of what aspects of our everyday routine are due to the development of science. Science had been developing together with human society and human intelligence. Just as humanity evolved, so did science and vice versa. The central idea of this part of the project is that science is present in everything we do in our life. This means that the way we live today is entirely due to the scientific discoveries. In order to show how science influences our everyday life, I will describe what it means in my everyday routine.
In order to wake up in the due time for school I need an alarm clock to be on. If it was not invented, I doubt that people would be able to come on time to work, school or anywhere else. The fact that I had a good sleep and feel myself refreshed in the morning is because of the smooth cotton fabrics of my bed linen and softness of pillows and blanket. Thanks to the technological revolution, the weaving industry shifted from loom to weaving mills delivering entirely new products of cotton material – smooth and light (Ingram, 2009).
Starting my morning routine, I realize that everything I need has a scientific imprint in it. I do not have to go a mile to the nearest well in order to get water for washing my face, not to speak of taking bath in the cold pool with fish. The water is delivered to my bathroom. Thanks to the central heating, I do not have to warm it up for hours in order to take a shower (Ingram, 2009). If the science did not progress, I could not even brush my teeth and wash my face, since toothpaste, soap and dental floss are products of chemical industry.
I would not be able to have the breakfast I wanted, if there was no fridge. Without it and transportation facilities food would have to be either grown nearby or conserved in an old-fashioned way of salting and drying up (Ingram, 2009). Hard to imagine dried strawberry being something tasty or cornflakes without fresh milk. Without electricity nothing would work – no TV and morning news, no coffee and toasts, and everything would have to be cooked on fire (Ingram, 2009). I wonder how the breakfast would have to look like, if I needed to go to school on foot, since there would be no busses or cars to use as means of transport.
At school, science is also in everything I use – the desk, chair, blackboard and chalk are manufactures thanks to scientific discoveries. Pens, notebooks, highlighters which I use on the regular basis also exist due to the science. During the classes, I do not have to note every single word of the teacher and sit for hours in the library as the only sources of knowledge. I can prepare some tasks at home, using my computer. If there was no computer and internet I would have to stay for hours in the library, waiting for the dusty, hand-written copy of the manuscript to be delivered to me (Ingram, 2009). Without “Word” software, I would have to use numerous sheets of paper in order to prepare a decent home work. Even this project would have to be written and re-written numerous times in order to eliminate all graphical and grammar mistakes. If that was the case, I would not be able to spend some time with my friends after school.
Thanks to science, we have various entertainment opportunities – from going to the movie to getting practical knowledge through a visit to the local museums. In such way remote cultures become closer. On the other hand, playing video games or going shopping with friends are also benefits of scientific revolution. Luckily, I have the choice to choose what the best for me is. After having some fun with friends, I can return home and do my home work. As I said, I do not have to be physically in the library in order to get everything I need for the preparation of the home work. I can comfortably sit in my favorite chair, listen to some music and write my home task – all at the same time. Afterwards, I would usually contact my friends on phone or twitter and discuss the recent events of my life. I do not have to go out in order to communicate with people I am acquainted with. I continue to be connected to the whole community irrespective of the fact that I am at home and going to bed soon. Without science I would not be able to live even one day, mainly because science is the main reason of my present lifestyle.
Overall, it can be concluded that science had contributed to the improvement of quality of life in sense that it increased comfort of my everyday life. Science had eliminated the distance in all its aspects. I do not have to go to the remote areas for food or water. I can get everything I need for a comfortable living in a couple of minutes or within a few hours thanks to delivery. On the other hand, science might have a negative influence on my life. I mean that, when you get everything so easily, you might forget its true value. Taking things for granted, makes real values blurry. In this case, irrespective of all benefits of science, progress might harm both my health and my perception of reality. Elimination of distance and development of digital dimension might influence my physical health if I do not do enough of physical activities. I might also become a victim of social networks, when real human relations are substituted by digital ones. I might also begin to forget where things of my everyday life come from, so I might begin to misinterpret the reality and take things for granted.
I think that because of the fact that science is a corner stone of the modern lifestyle, I would not be able to live without it even a day. The reason is not that I physically am incapable of that, since previous generations managed to survive somehow. The reason is that I do not have those accommodating abilities they used to have. My life accommodation and survival instincts were substituted by scientific benefits and comfortable lifestyle. Therefore, the main influence of this course on my view of science is that I understood that science is everything in my life and that without it I would not know what to do and how to live.
References
Gauch, H.G. (2003). Scientific method in practice. Cambridge, CB: Cambridge University
Press.
Gower, B. (1997). Scientific method: a historical and philosophical introduction. London,
LD: Routledge.
Ingram, J. (2009). The Science of Everyday Life. New York, NY: Penguin.
