MSR- Methodologies for Scientific Research 1. Methods and Techniques for scientific Research A possible vision about Theories on the development and characterization of Scientific Research http://paginas.fe.up.pt/~eol/PRODEI/mic1718_i.htm Eugénio Oliveira- 2017/2018 Eugénio Oliveira MSR- Methodologies for Scientific Research MSR- Methodologies for Scientific Research 1. Abstract of my Lectures Understanding about Science Scientific Methods and Techniques Writing scientific papers Evaluating scientific papers Consulting scientific Data Bases and searching for information ( FEUP’s Library) 2. Abstract of your practical Work To review and criticize one selected scientific paper All To organize a workshop (DSIE) To apply scientific methods (reasoning, developing, writing) To write your own scientific paper To orally present a scientific paper Eugénio Oliveira MSR- Methodologies for Scientific Research 1.1 Basic Motivations: Issues on Scientific Methods Eugénio Oliveira MSR- Methodologies for Scientific Research A Methodology is the study of the Methods, the philosophical rational or the set of procedures applicable in some area under observation A Method is the systematization of a process and steps leading to certain objectives Eugénio Oliveira MSR- Methodologies for Scientific Research Source: GETA and Graduate School of Electrical and Communications Engineering course: Introduction to Research Methodology, Aarne Mammela, VTT- Helsinki University of Technology, Eugénio Oliveira MSR- Methodologies for Scientific Research Source: http://www.experiment-resources.com/ Eugénio Oliveira MSR- Methodologies for Scientific Research What is your main motivation. What are your current (and future) interests? WRITE THESIS Collect information on the topic and identify an existing problem. Hypothesis Read all about it … proved? chartmethod002.jpg Discuss possibilities for Make your work generalizations Hypothesis shall be Use statistics. complemented by Make Research Questions to be comparisons. answered in the end Answer RQ Computing System?! Real Which Data? world or simulation? Which Metrics? System architecture Eugénio Oliveira MSR- Methodologies for Scientific Research Questioning Scientific Research- T.Kuhn • Basic Characteristics: • Cumulative versus reformulating always from the principles • However: •Thomas Kuhn (Harvard, Berkley, Princeton, MIT until 91. +96) “The Structure of Scientific Revolutions” 1962. • He points out the role in scientific research of the emergence of NEW PARADIGMS. Eugénio Oliveira MSR- Methodologies for Scientific Research Questioning Scientific Research- T.Kuhn What is your interpretation of the figure? It depends on your mental, apriori perspective…. • He points out the role in scientific research of the emergence of NEW PARADIGMS (new perspectives…). •A PARADIGM is defined as: Scientific discoveries, which universally recognized during a certain period of time, create a new model for both problems and their respective solutions to be used by a community of practicioners and experimentalists Eugénio Oliveira MSR- Methodologies for Scientific Research Questioning Scientific Research • JJ Thompson Model “Plum pudding model” • Bohr model, introduced by Niels Bohr in 1913, depicts the atom as a small, positively charged nucleus surrounded by electrons that travel in circular orbits around the nucleus—similar in structure to the solar system, • Schrodinger Model. The probability function basically describes a cloud-like region where the electron is likely to be found. It can not say with any certainty, where the electron actually is at any point in time, yet can describe where it ought to be. Eugénio Oliveira MSR- Methodologies for Scientific Research Questioning Scientific Research- L. Wittgenstein • Paradigms support theories based on concepts, phenomena and techniques for helping on explaining new facts or information • Science progresses through successive ruptures depending on the current accepted paradigms. Paradigms correspond to “different views” over the reality which are influenced by aspects other than scientific ones. L.Wittgenstein “Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus EugénioEugénio Oliveira Oliveira- 2014 MSR- Methodologies for Scientific Research Questioning Scientific Research- L. Wittgenstein • Wittgenstein and the animal??????… That’s the rabbit Mouth!! EugénioEugénio Oliveira Oliveira MSR- Methodologies for Scientific Research Questioning Scientific Research- L.Wittgenstein • Paradigms correspond to “different views” over the reality which are influenced by aspects other than scientific ones. “ Well, God has arrived. I met him on the 5:15 train. He has a plan to stay in Cambridge permanently”. John Maynard Keynes, after meeting with Wittgenstein at his arrival in Cambridge, in a letter to his wife “Wittgeinstein’s Poker”, David Edmonds, J. Eidinow Wittgenstein Versus Popper during "Are There Philosophical Problems?" meeting of the Moral Sciences Club Eugénio Oliveira MSR- Methodologies for Scientific Research Questioning Scientific Research- A. Einstein & C. • Scientific interpretation (and perception) is mostly affected by Social as well as Psychological factors. • Does it lead to Irrationality dominating Science? No • A good discussion on prevalence of science can be found in: • Kuhn, T.S. “Black-Body Theory and the Quantum Discontinuity”, 1987. However: Paradigm changes non-cumulative Science (sometimes) Eugénio Oliveira MSR- Methodologies for Scientific Research Questioning Scientific Research- A. Einstein & C. • Examples of important Paradigm changes: • Solar System Ptolemy's vision changed by Copernicus vision). • Going from Newtonian Physics to Quantic Physics (Uncertainty Versus Determinism..) and Relativity (Space-Time relationship). Eugénio Oliveira MSR- Methodologies for Scientific Research Questioning Scientific Research- K.Popper • Karl Popper (London S. E., + 94) • “The Logic of Scientific Discover”, Basic Books, 1959 (1ªEd Ing) • “Conjecture and Refutations”, Harper & Row, 1968 • Idealistic. He developed a Scientific Method as an Epistomology (a way of “knowing”) independently of the intrinsic value of the subject. • T. Khun and Feyerabend (1993) criticize this point of view showing how science is guided by value and, therefore being non-idealistic. • This is a debate on “Consciousness over Existence” Eugénio Oliveira MSR- Methodologies for Scientific Research Questioning Scientific Research- K. Popper • “Critical Rationalism” proposal defends “falsifiability” as a criterion for demarcating (separating) science and non-science Induction (might be) Baaaad!!! – Falsifiability is gooood!!! • Popper argues that scientific theory will always be conjectural and provisional. It is not possible to confirm veracity (the truth) of a theory by means of simply recognizing that the results of a preview already done based on that very same theory, hold. That Theory should only be seen as a theory not yet contradicted by facts. Eugénio Oliveira MSR- Methodologies for Scientific Research Questioning Scientific Research- K. Popper A scientific hypothesis must provide a logical possibility to be refuted by a probable true observation statement. Therefore, according to Popper, falsifiability is a required characteristic for a scientific theory. Science evolves by shedding its falsified theories. Popper’s falsification model is similar to the notion of "natural selection". The best theory keeps surviving and evolving Eugénio Oliveira MSR- Methodologies for Scientific Research Questioning Scientific Research • Verificationism: a sentence should be either verifiable or falsifiable • Critics addressed to Verificationism: • Generalization: specific instances lead to universal assumptions Observation X, being an instance of Theory T Increases the probability of Theory T being correct The “Black Crow paradox”: • The “Black Crow paradox”: by Hempel: “All Crows are Black" is logically equivalent to “Everything which is Non-Black is not a Crow“ x(Cx → Bx) ≡ x(¬Bx → ¬Cx) Eugénio Oliveira MSR- Methodologies for Scientific Research Questioning Scientific Research • The “Black Crow paradox”: by Hempel: “All Crows are Black" is logically equivalent to “Everything which is Non-Black is not a Crow”. x(Cx → Bx) ≡ x(¬Bx → ¬Cx) • Thus, IF x(Cx Bx) reassures that x(Cx→Bx), Then IF x(¬Bx ¬Cx) reassures that x(¬Bx→¬Cx) which, being equivalent to x(Cx→Bx), That implication would also see its probability of being True increased !!? Eugénio Oliveira MSR- Methodologies for Scientific Research Questioning Scientific Research • Crítics addressed to Verificationism: • Generalization: specific instances lead to universal assumptions • “There are Apples (non-Crows) not Black” Increases the probability that the sentence “All Crows are Black” is True !!? • If verificationism (generalization) was acceptable, any trivial evidence would support a Theory “falsifiability” proposed by KP states that keeping just the Existential assertion permit us to know that if another existential proposition that contradicts it, arrises, this falsifies the Theory T !! Eugénio Oliveira MSR- Methodologies for Scientific Research Questioning Scientific Research Message Always make clear all the assumptions you are using under which you believe your THESIS is correct. Eugénio Oliveira MSR- Methodologies for Scientific Research Scientific Research Eugénio Oliveira MSR- Methodologies for Scientific Research Scientific Research Exploration An exploration Enterprise: Christopher Columbus – the “Explorer” Motivation: ambiguous… Problem: a new way