The Scientific Method: A Guide to Finding Useful Knowledge

Description

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. The message of the book is complemented by Nobel Laureate Vernon L. Smith's foreword, and an afterword by Terence Kealey.

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

'How does scientific practice differ from scientific method? What does it take to become a good scientist? How to write an excellent paper? In times where science must confront rumors and fake news and struggles with inept practices, this clearly written book is a timely and valuable resource. The authors provide how-to checklists, starting with an oath every scientist and journalist should take: to have read all the work they cite. I highly recommended this book to everyone who loves science.' Gerd Gigerenzer, Director of the Harding Center for Risk Literacy, Max Planck Institute for Human Development 'From time to time, admirable human institutions lose their way and need reformation. As this important book makes clear, much contemporary science badly needs reformation. Scientists have been distracted from the honest, self-critical search for truth by careerism, ideology, and other lamentable forces. Too often 'science' has become well-funded propaganda for a political narrative. The book outlines what science should be, what problems contemporary science is facing, and how to fix them.' William Happer, Cyrus Fogg Bracket Professor of Physics, Emeritus, Princeton University 'This compact book challenges the status quo regarding what gets produced and published in the realm of science. The authors make clear why much research contributes nothing to scientific knowledge and how this situation can be changed by requiring checklists that focus the attention of stakeholders - journal editors, funding agencies, lawyers, regulators, the media, and scientists themselves - on the essential attributes of science, especially the consideration of alternative hypotheses. A compelling manifesto for how to make investment in science produce valid and useful results.' Geoffrey Kabat, Epidemiologist and author of Hyping Health Risks 'Contemporary science falls well short of its ideals for trustworthiness and usefulness. This book tells the truth, spotlighting shortcomings and corruption in scientific practice, and provides step-by-step guidance for baking integrity and value into our research and publication practices.' Denise M. Rousseau, H.J. Heinz II University Professor of Organizational Behavior and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University