INTRODUCING SCIENCE TO THE PARANORMAL
Definition of Science.
The word science comes from the Latin "scientia" mean knowledge.
The definition of science according to the Collegiate Dictionary is "Knowledge attained through study or practice", or knowledge covering general truths of the operation of general laws, esp. as obtained and tested through scientific method [and] concerned with the physical world".
What that really means is science refers to a system of acquiring knowledge. This system uses observation and experimentation to describe and explain phenomena. The word science can also describe any systematic field of study or knowledge gained from it. The purpose of science is to produce useful models of reality.
Science is basically verifiable knowledge, unlike philosophical systems, science is not a set of beliefs. All scientific theories are provisional, as long as they can pass all current tests, they can remain apart of scientific thinking. But they can be superseded at any time by new evidence. The formal conduct of science involves logic, argument, debate, observation, hypothesis, prediction,experiment and conclusion. When scientific papers are published, they are subject to peer review. Because there are no authorities that can say how an experiment is supposed to turn out, other experts within the same field examines the methods used to ensure they are sound.
The definition of science according to the Collegiate Dictionary is "Knowledge attained through study or practice", or knowledge covering general truths of the operation of general laws, esp. as obtained and tested through scientific method [and] concerned with the physical world".
What that really means is science refers to a system of acquiring knowledge. This system uses observation and experimentation to describe and explain phenomena. The word science can also describe any systematic field of study or knowledge gained from it. The purpose of science is to produce useful models of reality.
Science is basically verifiable knowledge, unlike philosophical systems, science is not a set of beliefs. All scientific theories are provisional, as long as they can pass all current tests, they can remain apart of scientific thinking. But they can be superseded at any time by new evidence. The formal conduct of science involves logic, argument, debate, observation, hypothesis, prediction,experiment and conclusion. When scientific papers are published, they are subject to peer review. Because there are no authorities that can say how an experiment is supposed to turn out, other experts within the same field examines the methods used to ensure they are sound.
Scientific method.
Scientific method is a logical and rational order of steps by which scientist come to conclusions about the world, universe and everything. The scientific method helps to organize thoughts and procedures so that scientists can be confident in answers they find. Scientist use observation, hypotheses and deduction to make these conclusions. You think through the various possibilities using scientific method to eventually come to an answer to the original question.
The basic steps of Scientific Method are:
* Observation / research
* Hypothesis
* Prediction
* Experimentation
* Conclusion
Observation is conducted first so that it can be decided how you want to do your research. The hypothesis is the answer you think you will find. The prediction is about the scientific believe. To prove that the hypothesis is to be correct .... experiment is the tool that is used to answer the question and the conclusion is the answer that the experiment gives.
OBSERVATION:
Observation/research is the first stage in understanding the problem or project to be taken on. After you decide on the area of science and the specific question you want to ask, research everything that you can about the problem. Collect information on the problem from your own experiences, other people (interviewing) books, internet, libraries, national/state records/archives etc. It is important to use as many sources as possible. The more information found the better the design of the experiment and will give a better overall result.
HYPOTHESIS:
The next stage is the hypothesis, this basically means "a possible solution to the problem". Based on the research and knowledge gathered. A hypothesis is a statement that defines what describes the outcome of the problem or experiment will be. Experiments then can be set up to test the hypothesis.
PREDICATION:
The hypothesis is the general statement of how you think the scientific problem in question works. The prediction lets you get more specific...how will you demonstrate that the hypothesis is correct?
It is important to note during this stage is that once a hypothesis and prediction is made, it shouldn't be changed even if the experiment shows you are wrong. A incorrect prediction does not mean failure - it just means the experiment brought up new facts that had not been thought of before. These new factors can be added in at a later time with new experiments.
EXPERIMENT:
This stage is when you test your hypothesis. An experiment is the tool that is designed to find out if the idea about the problem is right or wrong. It is important to design a experiment that will accurately test the hypothesis. The experiment is one of the most important parts of scientific method. It is the logical process that lets you know about the world.
CONCLUSION:
The final step in the scientific method is the conclusion. This the summary of the experiments results and how those results matched up with the hypothesis.
There are two options for the conclusion based on the results. Either you can reject the hypothesis or accept the hypothesis. In science there is one important point "you cannot prove the hypothesis with only one experiment because there is chance that there could be errors somewhere along the line". What can be said is that the results support the original hypothesis.
If the hypothesis didn't match up with the final results of the experiment, don't change the hypothesis. Instead try and explain what might have been wrong with the original hypothesis. What information was not there originally that caused it to be wrong in the prediction and what the reasons were for the hypothesis and the experiments not to match up.
A experiment is not a failure if it proves the hypothesis is incorrect or the prediction is not accurate. A science experiment is only a failure if the design is flawed.
A flawed experiment is one that....
* Does not keep its variables under control.
* Does not sufficiently answer the question asked.
The basic steps of Scientific Method are:
* Observation / research
* Hypothesis
* Prediction
* Experimentation
* Conclusion
Observation is conducted first so that it can be decided how you want to do your research. The hypothesis is the answer you think you will find. The prediction is about the scientific believe. To prove that the hypothesis is to be correct .... experiment is the tool that is used to answer the question and the conclusion is the answer that the experiment gives.
OBSERVATION:
Observation/research is the first stage in understanding the problem or project to be taken on. After you decide on the area of science and the specific question you want to ask, research everything that you can about the problem. Collect information on the problem from your own experiences, other people (interviewing) books, internet, libraries, national/state records/archives etc. It is important to use as many sources as possible. The more information found the better the design of the experiment and will give a better overall result.
HYPOTHESIS:
The next stage is the hypothesis, this basically means "a possible solution to the problem". Based on the research and knowledge gathered. A hypothesis is a statement that defines what describes the outcome of the problem or experiment will be. Experiments then can be set up to test the hypothesis.
PREDICATION:
The hypothesis is the general statement of how you think the scientific problem in question works. The prediction lets you get more specific...how will you demonstrate that the hypothesis is correct?
It is important to note during this stage is that once a hypothesis and prediction is made, it shouldn't be changed even if the experiment shows you are wrong. A incorrect prediction does not mean failure - it just means the experiment brought up new facts that had not been thought of before. These new factors can be added in at a later time with new experiments.
EXPERIMENT:
This stage is when you test your hypothesis. An experiment is the tool that is designed to find out if the idea about the problem is right or wrong. It is important to design a experiment that will accurately test the hypothesis. The experiment is one of the most important parts of scientific method. It is the logical process that lets you know about the world.
CONCLUSION:
The final step in the scientific method is the conclusion. This the summary of the experiments results and how those results matched up with the hypothesis.
There are two options for the conclusion based on the results. Either you can reject the hypothesis or accept the hypothesis. In science there is one important point "you cannot prove the hypothesis with only one experiment because there is chance that there could be errors somewhere along the line". What can be said is that the results support the original hypothesis.
If the hypothesis didn't match up with the final results of the experiment, don't change the hypothesis. Instead try and explain what might have been wrong with the original hypothesis. What information was not there originally that caused it to be wrong in the prediction and what the reasons were for the hypothesis and the experiments not to match up.
A experiment is not a failure if it proves the hypothesis is incorrect or the prediction is not accurate. A science experiment is only a failure if the design is flawed.
A flawed experiment is one that....
* Does not keep its variables under control.
* Does not sufficiently answer the question asked.
Can the Paranormal be Studied Scientifically
USING SCIENCE WITHIN PARANORMAL RESEARCH:
Some people say that the paranormal is beyond science. It represents a world beyond the physical that cannot be studied scientifically. Consider this: if an individual observes a ghost then something scientifically measurable has occurred. This could mean something physical to see or hear which could be photographed or recorded. Even if there is no physical ghost there could be measurable residue or stimulus (magnetic fields, atmospheric, environmental anomalies). For a paranormal event to be witnessed, it has to interface with the physical world is someway. So when there is something to measure then science can be used.
When used correctly, science is good for working things out. Science is the best tool to look at the questions to tease out details. The use of logic, inference, theorizing, observation and experiment is the best way from separating fact from fantasy.
A great many beliefs have formed out of the paranormal but few with any credible evidence. Until the assumption based ideas are discarded and the paranormal subject takes on a scientific approach using a evidence based methods, very little progress will be made in the paranormal field.
Some people say that the paranormal is beyond science. It represents a world beyond the physical that cannot be studied scientifically. Consider this: if an individual observes a ghost then something scientifically measurable has occurred. This could mean something physical to see or hear which could be photographed or recorded. Even if there is no physical ghost there could be measurable residue or stimulus (magnetic fields, atmospheric, environmental anomalies). For a paranormal event to be witnessed, it has to interface with the physical world is someway. So when there is something to measure then science can be used.
When used correctly, science is good for working things out. Science is the best tool to look at the questions to tease out details. The use of logic, inference, theorizing, observation and experiment is the best way from separating fact from fantasy.
A great many beliefs have formed out of the paranormal but few with any credible evidence. Until the assumption based ideas are discarded and the paranormal subject takes on a scientific approach using a evidence based methods, very little progress will be made in the paranormal field.
Is a Paranormal Investigation Scientific?
Scientific methods can be added to any research, so of course a paranormal investigation can be done scientifically. For a investigation to be conducted in a scientific manner you need to plan exactly what you are going to do. It is a useless exercise just turning up with a bunch of people and equipment to wander around with no direction or idea what they are actually doing and expect to do scientific research. There needs to be a fixed plan that everyone must adhere to at all times. It is not sufficient to say "In my opinion"... that something is paranormal. In the scientific world you need to demonstrate to someone who was not there you have effectively eliminated all other possible explanations.
It is important to provide continuous time-synchronized instrument readings in an attempt to show that possible natural causes did not happen to eliminate all natural causes. It is important to prove to a third party who was not a part of the investigation that the evidence did really happen. Unless the evidence can be demonstrated to anyone reading the investigation report they will simply say "you did not eliminate this or that possibility. If all explanations are not eliminated then the results are of interest but neither conclusive nor persuasive.
As with most areas of paranormal research, there will always be elements that are inconclusive but it is very important to include in any report how this conclusion came about and the methods used.
It is important to provide continuous time-synchronized instrument readings in an attempt to show that possible natural causes did not happen to eliminate all natural causes. It is important to prove to a third party who was not a part of the investigation that the evidence did really happen. Unless the evidence can be demonstrated to anyone reading the investigation report they will simply say "you did not eliminate this or that possibility. If all explanations are not eliminated then the results are of interest but neither conclusive nor persuasive.
As with most areas of paranormal research, there will always be elements that are inconclusive but it is very important to include in any report how this conclusion came about and the methods used.