lecture 4 the scientific method in geography sk

8/10/2019 Lecture 4 the Scientific Method in Geography SK

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The Scientific Method in

Geography

Lecture 4


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What is the Scientific Method? The scientific method is the best way yet

discovered for winnowing the truth from lies anddelusion.

Science is the methodical approach to theacquisition of knowledge. The scientific methodAnswers the question how the world is betterinvestigated? It represents the system of scienceand the complete problem solving process.

The scientific method comprises the explicitdevelopment of Rules of behaviour that makevalid and acceptable explanations


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Simplified version of scientific method

REPLICABILITY

i. Observesome aspect of the universe.

ii. Invent a tentative description, called a hypothesisthat is consistent with what you have observed.

iii. Use the hypothesis to make predictions.

iv. Testthose predictions by experiments or furtherobservations and modify the hypothesis in thelight of your results.

v. Repeatsteps 3 and 4 until there are nodiscrepancies between theory and experimentand/or observation.


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Inductive

Deductive

Harveys 2 Routes of Scientific

Explanation


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Proceeds from numerous particular instances to

universal statementsa posteriori

Generalisations are derived from observations

Sense-perception data provide factual data which can

be ordered A regular association between two classes of event may

suggest an empirical inductive law.

A number of these empirical laws are then united into

a unified theoretical structure (Theories, Laws,

Models)

Only observable facts count as knowledge

(Strabo/Varenius/Kant/Humboldt/ Ritter/ Hettner, etc)

Route 1: The inductive route


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Harveys Route 1

Inductive Logic


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Route 2: Deductive pathway

Relies on the intuitive(spontaneous) picturing of howreality is structured

Recognises the a priorinature of scientific knowledge andrests upon the intuitive speculationregarding the nature of

reality Intuitive pictures lead to theory formulation and

hypotheses

Statements/hypotheses contained in the theory, which

commands considerable support, are called scientific laws

Positivist philosophy underpinned this method wherebylaws must be proven through objective and replicable

procedures


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Harveys Route 2.

Deductive Pathway

An alternative route to

scientific explanation:


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Harveys Inductive Pathway

PerceptualExperiences

UnorderedFacts

DefinitionClassificationMeasurement

OrderedFacts

Inductive

Generalisation

Laws & TheoryConstruction

EXPLANATION

Harveys Deductive Pathway

Perceptual Experiences

Image of real world structure

A Priori Model (formalrepresentation of the image)

Hypotheses

Experimental Design (definition,classification, measurement)

Data

Verification Procedures(statistical tests etc)

Laws & Theory Construction

EXPLANATION

Unsuccessful

negative

feedback

positive

feedback

Successful


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Positive attributes of scientific method:

Relevance of the SM to geography

The scientific method is the best way yet discovered forwinnowing the truth from lies and delusion

The scientific method is based upon

EVIDENCE rather than BELIEF

It is an ordered and a systematic process in knowledgeacquisition

Scientific method is unprejudiced: conclusions will holdirrespective of the state of mind, or the religious persuasion,

or the state of consciousness of the investigator and/or thesubject of the investigation.

Leads to the building of theories and laws in geography

Enhances the image of geography as a science of spatialorientation


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Criticisms of the scientific method

Empiricism: anything outside Kants world is beyond thereach of the scientific method

Nave objectivism: not possible to be objective butsubjective in degree

The faulty assumptions, dogmatism, eurocentricism

Single hypothesis type of explanations Scientists often refuse to test fringe(outside e main stream)ideas because ``science'' tells them that this will be a wasteof time and effort

Chaos rules in the social world so the ordered andsystematic procedure is inappropriate

Social beings have different rationalities, hence difficult toarrive at laws that account for social behaviour (BoundedRationality: Simpson, Pred & Harvey)


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Trial questions

The scientific method is the best way yetdiscovered for winnowing the truth from lies and

delusion Discuss

Outline Harveys route II or deductive pathway toscientific explanation showing its strengths and

weaknesses

Explain the inductive approach to geographic

inquiry outlined by David Harvey in his book

Explanation in Geography (1969).


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Sources

David Harvey 1969. Explanation in Geography.

Pages 30-36

R J Jonhston 1979. Geography and

Geographers: Anglo-American Human

Geography since 1945. Pages 73-84

lecture 4 the scientific method in geography sk

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