how to develop a scientific mind

8/8/2019 How to Develop a Scientific Mind

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How to Develop a

Scientific Mind


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Scientific Thinking

The mode of thinking about any scientific

subject, content or problem in which the

thinker improves the quality of his or herthinking by skillfully taking charge of the

structures inherent in thinking and

imposing intellectual standards upon them.


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Results of Being a Scientific

Thinker: Able to raise vital scientific questions &

problems, formulating them clearly &precisely.

Able to gather & assess relevant scientificdata & information, using abstract ideas tointerpret them effectively.

Able to come to well-reasoned scientificconclusions :& solutions, testing themagainst relevant criteria & standards


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Results continued

Able to think open-mindedly within

convergent systems of scientific thought,

recognizing & assessing scientificassumptions, implications & practical

consequences.

Able to communicate effectively with

others in proposing solutions to complex

scientific problems.


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Scientific Thinking .

Is short, self-directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored, and self-corrective.

Presupposes assent to rigorous standardsof excellence and mindful command oftheir use.

Entails effective communication and

problem solving abilities as well ascommitment to developing scientific skills& abilities.


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Scientific Thinking.

Seeks to quantify, explain, and predict

relationships in nature via observations,

experiments, exact measurement, andformation of physical hypotheses, theories

or laws.

Seeks to test, modify and refine

hypotheses.


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Essential Intellectual Standards

Clarity

Accuracy

Relevance

Logicalness

Breadth

Precision

Significance

Completeness

Fairness

Depth


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Clarity

Cannot determine whether a statement is

accurate, relevant or anything!

Need to ask: Can you elaborate?

Can you express the point in another way?


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Accuracy

A statement can be clear but not accurate.

Most creatures with a spine are over 300

pounds in weight.Ask:

Is that really true? How can we check

that?


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Precision

A statement can be both clear & accurate

but not precise. The solution in the beaker

is hot.

Ask:

Could you give me more details? Can you

be more specific?


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Relevance

A statement can be clear, accurate, and

precise, but not relevant to the question at

issue.

Ask:

How is that connected to the question?

How does that bear on the issue?


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Depth

A statement may be clear, accurate,

precise and relevant, but superficial.

Just say no campaign Ask:

How does your answer address the

complexities in the question?How are you taking into account the

problems in the question?


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Breadth

A statement may be clear, accurate,

precise, relevant, and deep but lack

breadth. (As in an argument from either of

two conflicting theories.)

Ask:

Do we need to consider another point of

view? What would this look like from thepoint of view of a conflicting theory, etc.?


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Logic

Does this make sense?

Does that follow from what you said? How

does that follow?


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Significance

Is this the central idea to focus on?

What set of data is most important?


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Fairness

Do I have a vested interest in this issue

which keeps me from looking at it

objectively?

Am I misrepresenting a view with which I

disagree?


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Apply these standards to.


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Element of Scientific Thought

Purposes

Questions

Points of View

Information

Inferences

Concepts

Implications

Assumptions


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Traits of a Scientific Mind

Intellectual Humility

Intellectual Autonomy

Intellectual Integrity

Intellectual Courage

Intellectual

Perseverance

Confidence in Reason

Intellectual Empathy

Fair-mindedness


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Intellectual Humility

Knowledge of ignorance, sensitivity to

what you know & what you do not know.

Implies being aware of your biases,

prejudices, of your viewpoint.

What do I really know about the scientific

issue I am raising?

To what extent do my prejudices or biasesinfluence my ability to think scientifically?


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Intellectual Courage

The disposition to question beliefs you feel

strongly about. It includes questioning the

beliefs of your culture and groups to which

you belong a willingness to express your

views even when they are unpopular.

To what extent have I analyzed the beliefs I

hold which may impede my ability to thinkscientifically? To what extent am I willing to

stand up against the majority?


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Intellectual Empathy

Awareness of the need to activelyentertain views that differ from our own especially those we strongly disagree with.

Need to accurately reconstruct theviewpoints & reasoning of our opponentsand to reason from premises and ideasother than our own.

Can I see insights in the scientific viewsof others and prejudices in my own?


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Intellectual Integrity

Consists of holding yourself to the same

intellectual standards you expect others to

honor.

To what extent do I expect of myself what I

expect of others?


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Intellectual Perseverance

The disposition to work your way through

intellectual complexities despite the

frustration inherent in the task.

Am I willing to work my way through

complexities in a scientific issue or do I tend

to give up hen I experience difficulty?


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Confidence in Reason

Based on the belief that ones own higher

interests and those of humankind at large

are best served by giving the freest play to

reason.

Am I willing to change my position when the

scientific evidence leads to a more

reasonable position?


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Intellectual Autonomy

Thinking for oneself while adhering to

standards of rationality.

Do I think through scientific issues on my

own or do I merely accept the scientific views

of others?


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Development of the Scientific Mind

6. Unscientific thinker

Unaware of significant problems in our

thinking about scientific issues.5. Challenged Thinker

Begin to recognize the fact that we often fail

to think scientifically when dealing withscientific thinking.


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Development of Scientific Mind

4. Beginning Scientific Thinker

We try to improve our scientific thinking, but

without regular practice.3. Practicing Scientific Thinker

We recognize the need for regular practice.

2. Advanced Scientific ThinkerWe advance in keeping with our practice.


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Development of the Scientific Mind

1. Accomplished Scientific Thinker

Good habits of scientific thought are

becoming second nature.

how to develop a scientific mind

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