Scientific method
Preamble
The ‘Scientific Method’ (??) is a powerful device for developing reliable knowledge. This Essay is an opportunity for you to explore the ?? – both its strengths and limitations – and to think how this approach to the construction of reliable knowledge, might assist in in execution of your Group Research Project.
(?) (5 marks): Provide a reasonably detailed exposition of the Scientific Method.
Some possible starting references for this part
Haig, B. D (2005), “An Abductive Theory of Scientific Method”, Psychological Methods, 10 (4), especially pages 371 – 72.
Anderson, P. F. (1983), “Marketing, Scientific Progress, and Scientific Method”, Journal of Marketing, 47 (4), especially pages 18 – 22.
Ulen, T. S. (2003), A Nobel Prize in Legal Science: Theory, Empirical Work, and the Scientific Method in the Study of Law”, University of Illinois Law Review 2002 (4), especially pages 876 – 893.
Dodig-Crnkovic, G. (2002), “Scientific Methods in Computer Science”, especially Section 3. http://poincare.math.rs/~vladaf/Courses/Matf%20MNSR/Literatura/Scientific%20Methods%20in%20Computer%20Science.pdf
Gower, B. (1997), Scientific Method An historical and philosophical introduction, Routledge, London and New York
(?) (10 marks): Provide a detailed exposition of a case study of the Scientific Method applied to a major discipline area of your choice.
Some possible starting references for this part
Skinner, B. F. (1956), “A case history in scientific method”, American Psychologist, 1956, 11(5), pp. 221 – 233.
George, A. L. and A. Bennett (2004), Case Studies and Theory Development in the Social Sciences, BCSIA Studies in International Security, MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, London, England
(?) (5 marks): Outline how you might use classical Scientific Method – or any of its extensions – in your ‘Book Industry’ Research Project.
Some possible starting references for this part
Bray, J. (1977) "The logic of scientific method in Economics", Journal of Economic Studies, 4(1) pp.1 – 28, https://doi.org/10.1108/eb002463
Luca Tacconi, L. (1998), “Scientific methodology for ecological economics”, Ecological Economics 27, pp. 91 – 105.
Haig, B. D (2005) “Exploratory Factor Analysis, Theory Generation, and Scientific Method”, Multivariate Behavioral Research, 40 (3), pp. 303 – 329,
Ryan, B., R. W. Scapens and M. Theobold (2002),Research Method and Methodology in Finance and Accounting, Second Edition, Cenage.
Markley, M. J. (2010), “The [Geo]Scientific Method; hypothesis testing and geoscience proposal writing for students”, Journal of Geoscience Education,58 (4), pp. 198 – 202.
Karsai, I. and G. Kampis (2010), “The Crossroads between Biology and Mathematics: The Scientific Method as the Basics of Scientific Literacy”, BioScience, 60(8), pp. 632 – 638.