Blog 8

1. What I understand from today's lesson?

We have learned/discussed about:

a) Observation

-is the distinction of external virtue, since it is the contact of theory to the outside world

-is the source of the world’s input and guidance over our describing and modeling.

-provides unaltered facts, it is different from inferences which may be biased

-is an essential aspect of scientific process

b) The importance of observation

-observation is scrutinized

-empirical sciences

-the claims they make are contingent on what is going on in the world

-the decisive and authoritative arbiter of truth in science

-empirists reports of observation will serve as a common ground of agreement for all participants of science regardless of their theoretical or skeptical preconceptions

-intersubjective & accessible by anyone and agreeable to everyone and as adjudicator of theories-at least all agree on the observation

-Observation VS Inferences

Observation: facts, the unaltered information from the world          

Inference: danger of bias and the products of thought could be more artifacts with NO correlation to the real world

-Hope of Empiricist: reasonable observational claims & unimpaired person will agree to

-observation must be on the observational report rather than on the physical event of sensation (sensationalism-e.g. 6 sense)

           

c) Accountable Observation

-science can make use of an observation only if it is an accountable observation

-To be an accountable observation, we need to fulfill 2 aspects of accountability:

i) Observation must be informative (account of something)

ii) Observation must be justified in the sense of being certifiable (X haphazard or uncontrolled)

- justify proper conditions and procedures.

-A useful observation must be reported in an informational form

Example of an informational from

Source: Google Image

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcScWqWNiUd8Fh7gTC8-YEcCgxKyd1OrxpHVYlStHYTtWaCIigqQOw

-X described=USELESS evidence

-2 edges of accountability:

i) To contribute to science or knowledge (an observation must be about something, must be informative, assertive, propositional)

ii) The observational report is accurately about what it claims to be about

-Observational distortions that result from unsuitable conditions:

i) Observer may be improperly attentive / too far away

ii) Viewing conditions may be too dark or littered with obstructions

iii) May be interference from outside sources causing a distorted view

For Activity 1, 2 and 3, we had spent a lot of time on discussing and summarize the main focus. For further explanation, please refer to the padlet links below.

d) Activity 1: Observation and it’s relationship with Theory

padlet link: http://padlet.com/norhayati_maska/NOSobservationandtheory

e) Activity 2: Theory-Laden Observation

padlet link: http://padlet.com/norhayati_maska/NOStheoryladenobservation

f) Activity 3: Observing and Reading

padlet link: http://padlet.com/norhayati_maska/NOSobservingandreading

2. What is the one thing I need help in?

I have learned that “observations are agree by all”. So, what will happen if the observations are not agree by all?

3. How am I going to use this new knowledge to teach nature of science in the future?

When I am going to teach my students, I will ask them to observe the changes and the end products of the experiments. After that, they need to find some ways to record down their observation such as table form or graph. This is because students learn best through experiential learning. I believe that by memorizing the facts and observations that have made or prepared by others does not promote active learning.