Applying the scientific method to everyday household problems

Science in Daily Life

Scientific Method

Scenario 1: You arrive home late at night. You walk up to the front door, unlock it, and reach in to turn on the light switch located just inside the front door. The light does not come on! Now what?

The five steps of the scientific method include: observation / research, hypothesis, prediction, experimentation and conclusion. When you apply them to this to a particular problem, they are addressing a number of aspects to help determine the underlying causes. As far as observation / research are concerned, this is when you have discovered that the light switch does not work. Realizing that you have a problem, you form a hypothesis that you will test. In this situation, most people will more than likely believe that this is because the light bulb is burnt out. Prediction is when you decide that you should find a new light bulb inside the drawer and replace the old one. This will tell you if the problem is related to the bulb itself or if it is something associated with the switch / electricity. The experimentation is when you will physically test your hypothesis by: unscrewing the light bulb and then replacing it with a new one. The conclusion is when you will decide if the prediction is accurate and the extent of the problem. This means that once the new light bulb has been placed into the socket and it comes on your hypothesis was proven to be accurate. On the other hand, if you change the bulb and the light still does not work. This could be a sign that you are having more severe problems with the light switch or within the wiring itself. ("Understanding and Using the Scientific Method," 2011)

Scenario 2: Develop your own detailed problem / observation and apply the scientific method to solve.

A detailed method problem that could be used to solve an everyday situation is when: you are troubleshooting issues with your cable Internet service. In this particular case, the Internet is considered to be a broadband connection that is tied directly to the telephone and cable TV. However, when logging online you discover that you are unable to gain access to the World Wide Web. ("Understanding and Using the Scientific Method," 2011)

To determine the root cause of the problem you would use the scientific method to understand what was happening. In this case, observation will occur by seeing that the Internet is not working when you try to go online. You immediately form a hypothesis about how this could be a situation where either: the cable is out or there is a specific problem with the connection inside the house (i.e. issues with the router). At which point, you will make a prediction that it is more than likely tied to problems within the cable itself. To test they hypothesis, you immediately pick up the telephone and see if there is a dial tone. The reason why, is because: the telephone, Internet and cable are all connected. If you have a dial tone, then this is a sign that the problem is isolated within the house itself. However, if there is no dial tone, it will be clear that the signal coming into the location is out at the cable company.

After picking up the telephone, you discover that there is no dial tone. At which point, you make the conclusion that the signal coming into your house is out. To confirm this, you immediately call the cable company and discover that they are working on the lines in the area. At which point, you are able to make a conclusion that is supporting your hypothesis about the problem associated with something that is occurring with your cable provider. While at the same time, you are able to disprove part of the hypothesis with the signal inside your location. These different elements are important, because they are showing how the scientific method is used as a tool to gain more specific insights about the underlying problems that you are facing in everyday situations. As, it is helping you to: isolate and identify possible challenges, while allowing you to narrow down the underlying causes. Once this occurs, you can take specific steps to determine the causes of the problem. ("Understanding and Using the Scientific Method," 2011)

Part II: Why I Live With or Without Science

Describe a typical day in your life from the time you wake up, until the time you go to bed. Describe how science impacts you and your routine throughout the day.

The typical day consists of waking up and thinking about what kinds tasks need to be accomplished. This involves determining what kinds of classes I will be attending and how I deal with a variety of everyday tasks. Once I go to the different classes, I am presented with a host of concepts that will challenge me intellectually. During the process I take notes and think about how I can use this information to improve my understanding of the material. At which point, I will work part time and deal with a variety of customer service issues. Once this has taken place, I will return home and begin going over my notes along with the various objectives that were covered in the different classes. After, I have completed my studying I will have a light dinner and then go to bed.

When you step back and analyze what is happening, it is clear that the scientific method is used on a daily basis. The way that this takes place is from the moment that I wake up in the morning. Where, I will be using observation during my classes and at work to decide the kinds of issues I am going to be wrestling with during the day. Once I have looked over all the relevant facts, I will make a hypothesis about how to solve these problems and begin making predictions about their possible outcomes. I will then begin to use experimentation to understand the most effective approach in supporting or refuting my hypothesis during the day. For example, during class when I am hearing different ideas I will write them down. At which point, I will test these thoughts in an experimentation process during the course of studying. This is when I will see if the approach and techniques are most effective for understanding the material that was presented. At which point, I will begin to focus on those areas that were effective in improving learning comprehension. While disregarding, those areas that are ineffective in helping me to achieve these objectives. This is when I can make conclusions about the outcome and the impact that it is having on the final results (based upon my hypothesis of understanding the causes and effects of what is taking place). These different elements are important, because they are showing how the scientific method is often utilized as a way to understand the underlying causes of the problems we face on a daily basis. While at the same time, it is helping us to see what approaches and techniques are most effective at dealing with them.

How has this course impacted the way you view science?

This course had both a positive and negative impact about the way that I am looking at science. Where, I understand the overall benefits of science and how it is an important part of everyone's lives. Yet, I also know that with any kind of breakthroughs there are also going to be adverse consequences. The reason why, is because science is objectively looking at the underlying causes of a particular situation and the impact that it is having. This means that with any kind of breakthroughs there will be both: positive and negative outcomes. The key is being able to use science to improve our understanding of the world and the possible aftereffects associated with a variety of situations.

At the same time, science is a part of my daily life by helping me to objectively evaluate a variety of challenges that I am facing. Where, I can step back and objectively analyze the underlying problems. At which point, I can use this information to separate any kind of emotions that are tied to the issue. I can then test the different ideas that I may have, to see what approach will work most effectively in dealing with these challenges. In this aspect, science has been having a positive impact on my life by: allowing me to focus on how to see what kind of tactics will work the best when dealing with a number of issues.

As a result, this has changed the way that I am viewing science by: looking at specific issues that can help me to objectively analyze the situation. This is different from many of the common misconceptions that you will hear about science in the press. Where, they are only focused on the negative effects of what is taking place and the impact that it is having. During this course, I was able to understand how science is a part of everyone's lives and the different ways it can be an important tool in helping us to more effectively troubleshoot. Once this took place, I began to look at the world more objectively vs. going from one emotional event to the next. Therefore, understanding science has helped me to grow as a person. At which point, I was able to have a better comprehension of the world we are living in.