data collection?: Philosophy Forums

data collection?

m86
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Posted 02/15/08 - 08:02 AM: Subject: data collection?	#1
What is science? Is science simply data collection? I am trying to understand the basis behind science and what the role that data collection has within. Any views, would be much appreciated!

perseus
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Posted 02/15/08 - 11:31 AM:	#2
Here is my take on this We have raw experiences that are completely subjective, that is there is no way we can be sure that someone else would have had the same experience or indeed a experience at all We can combine two or more (usually a multitude) of those subjective experiences together to form what constitutes an objective measurement. That is a measurement that should be reportably identical for everyone. This constitutes scientific data The conditions of the experiment is repeated to ensure the data can be replicated at least statistically and within certain instrumental limitations Likewise different subjects in different laboratories reproduce the data. At that point the data starts to possess scientific credibility so they can be used to relate to other data collected by a similar process. Science only consists of objective data and relationships. Since science only consists of objective data and relationships, the reality of the original subjective experiences are either denied or 'explained' away by a process of semantical confusion, or just embarrassingly cast aside since they can't be objectively measured.
The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable man persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man. George Bernard Shaw

Swordfishtrombone
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Posted 02/16/08 - 05:24 PM:	#3
If you look at the scientific method, then strictly speaking science is about hypothesis testing. A hypothesis is a question of scientific interest; a methodology is then created to collect data in a controlled way that will positively or negatively addres the hypothesis. Then the results are reviewed in the context of related science -- that is how science expands itself. Data collection is a means to an end, but the quality of the data collection is integral to the quality of the science.
Paul - http://www.pbase.com/drpablo74 "Everything you can think of is true..." -Tom Waits

unenlightened
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Posted 02/17/08 - 08:57 AM:	#4
I think I would say that the scientific method is founded on the demonstration. you do not have to believe what I say, or what the Good Book says, because I will show you how it is. Look, you take so much uranium, and you bring it together just so , and... you may want to stand back a bit for this one. I use a lot of data and math to work out how much uranium to use, and how fast to bring it all together, but where it becomes science and not just talk, is when I can show that it works every time - the bulb lights up, the voice comes down the wire, etc. In the end science is stinks and bangs, and ever more shall be so.
...most of our actions are the result of the past, or according to a future ideal. That's not action, that is just conformity. J Krishnamurti "Philosophy, to the Philistine, is an evolutionary process, watched over by some sort of brisk dynamic Providence, and culminating in the supreme insight of modern thought." John Cowper Powys

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