Exploring the Scientific Method: Cases and Questions

by Steven Gimbel

From their grade school classrooms forward, students of science are encouraged to memorize and adhere to the “scientific method”—a model of inquiry consisting of five to seven neatly laid-out steps, often in the form of a flowchart. But walk into the office of a theoretical physicist or the laboratory of a biochemist and ask “Which step are you on?” and you will likely receive a blank stare. This is not how science works. But science does work, and here award-winning teacher and scholar Steven Gimbel provides students the tools to answer for themselves this question: What actually is the scientific method?

Exploring the Scientific Method pairs classic and contemporary readings in the philosophy of science with milestones in scientific discovery to illustrate the foundational issues underlying scientific methodology. Students are asked to select one of nine possible fields—astronomy, physics, chemistry, genetics, evolutionary biology, psychology, sociology, economics, or geology—and through carefully crafted case studies trace its historical progression, all while evaluating whether scientific practice in each case reflects the methodological claims of the philosophers. This approach allows students to see the philosophy of science in action and to determine for themselves what scientists do and how they ought to do it.

Exploring the Scientific Method will be a welcome resource to introductory science courses and all courses in the history and philosophy of science.

Genres: Science, Philosophy

Paperback

First published April 15, 2011

Reviews

[Brian Beatty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m considering this as materials for a graduate course I teach to medical students, and had to see if it would be useful. I love the excerpts from primary sources and the scenarios laid out are very good thought exercises. I’m not sure how much my students will get out of it, but it would be fascinating to see how they react...

[Katrina Christiansen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not nearly as useful for not to be scientists. Dense. And not engaging. Useful for those who are curious about science's path(s) and past.