The Scientific Method A Guide to Finding Useful Knowledge

About this book

The scientific method delivers prosperity, yet scientific practice has become subject to corrupting influences from within and without the scientific community. This essential reference is intended to help remedy those threats. The authors identify eight essential criteria for the practice of science and provide checklists to help avoid costly failures in scientific practice. Not only for scientists, this book is for all stakeholders of the broad enterprise of science. Science administrators, research funders, journal editors, and policymakers alike will find practical guidance on how they can encourage scientific research that produces useful discoveries. Journalists, commentators, and lawyers can turn to this text for help with assessing the validity and usefulness of scientific claims. The book provides practical guidance and makes important recommendations for reforms in science policy and science administration.

Contents

1. Introduction
2. Defining the scientific method
3. Checklist for the scientific method
4. Assessing the quality of scientific practice
5. Scientific practice: Problem of advocacy
6. Scientific practice: Problem of journal reviews
7. Scientific practice: Problem of government involvement
8. What is takes to be a good scientist
9. How scientists can discover useful knowledge
10. How scientists can disseminate useful findings
11. How stakeholders can help science
12. Rescuing science from advocacy
Afterword by Terence Kealey

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Biography

J. Scott Armstrong is Emeritus Professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Kesten C. Green researches and teaches at the University of South Australia.