Scientific Method

     The Scientific Method is a method that uses observation and experimentation to answer scientific questions. Many scientists use the scientific method. The steps of the scientific method are ask a question, research the topic, form a hypothesis, test the hypothesis, and analyze the data. One scientist that I talked to said that she used the scientific method in all of her experiments. Mrs Mcguffin, a science teacher at my old school, said that she would follow it step by step because that is how she was taught. She believes it to be the best way to answer a scientific question. Another scientist Mr. Striegel, who was a chemist for a tobacco company, said that he didn't follow the scientific method too strictly. He would conduct experiments but would not think about doing the scientific method. He roughly followed it, but he didn't go down the list and check off each step. My personal view of the scientific method is that it is a useful tool in answering questions, but I don't believe that it is the only way to go about things.

The Age of Denial Review

         The statistics that Adam Frank presents do not surprise me at all. He states that in 1989 63 percent of Americans thought that “climate change” was a problem. Almost twenty five years later the percentage dropped about 5 percentage points. I think this is just Americans questioning the things they are told. Frank wants people to believe whatever the scientists say and to not question it. He acts like doubting is a bad thing. I think doubting is one of the most important things that people could do when talking about people in a position of power. Mindless following is a bad thing. Learning about science is a good thing. Learning comes with doubting. When you doubt a assertion made by a scientist you can research the topic yourself, conducting your own scientific research. If a person likes science they will learn about science. Forcing science upon people will only turn them away from it. Frank says science is a tradition, and I agree with that. You shouldn’t mess with tradition. If people want science they will get science.