This document outlines the scientific method and discusses the differences between thinking and knowing. It explores how experiences and biases can influence what we think versus what we can prove through rigorous research. The scientific method involves forming a question, developing a theory to answer it, creating testable hypotheses, collecting data through experimentation, and revising theories based on results. While correlation does not prove causation, applying the scientific method helps establish statistically significant results that can be generalized to support causal claims.

1. Scientific Method

2. • What is the difference between….
– What you “look up” and what you “find out”?

3. • What is the difference between….
– What we “think” and what we “know”?

4. I think because of …
• My experiences ….. Such as?
• My makeup …. Such as?

5. My Experiences
• The way I was raised
• The education I have
• Past decisions
• What I chose to read, listen to, watch

6. My makeup
• My generation
• Who I am associated with
• My fears
• My faith

7. • Get back into the way-back machine
– Galileo and the leaning tower of Pisa
• what did he think?
• could he look it up?
• How did he find out?
– Issac Newton’s apple tree
• What did he experience and how did he explain it?
– Something he thought or knew?

8. I know because
• I have done the research and examined the
data
• Or
• I have read the results of research and
examined the methodology and work.

9. Scientific Theory
• Question -- always begins with a question
• Theory – We think we have an answer – a theory
• Hypothesis – We write the answer so it can be tested
• Test – We design a test – an experiement
• Data – We collect the data from our test
• Revise – We analyze the data and ask the next question

10. • Natural use of the scientific method!
• (Theories-in-action)
• Trial = hypothesis stated
• Error or Success = data generated
• New trial = statement of new or revised
hypothesis
• etc.
• Surprises caused by unexpected data lead to
revision of theories, which are then tested

11. • The next five slides are terms that are significant
in doing and understanding research. Take a
moment with each of them and find a definition
you can remember and that makes sense to you.
• Finally there is a final slide where you need to
think back to your statistics and remember all
there is to know about the term. And, then you
will need to remember what impact there is to
causation.

12. • What is the meaning of “rigor”?

13. • What is the meaning of “validity”?

14. • What is the meaning of “reliability”?

15. • What is the meaning of “generalizability”?

16. • What is the meaning of “statistically
significant”?

17. • From statistics – what is meant by correlation?
• And, finally – what is the connection between
correlation and causation?

18. Then there are some things …
• There are some absolutes for me.
– My faith
• He is God, I am not
• Jesus is God incarnate – the living word
• He died for my sins or I would have to
• Scripture is God’s word even though I don’t always know
what it means
– Scientific method
• Statistically significant
– Magic number – the “N”, it makes all the rest work.
– Chance – I must be able to have an assurance
– Probability – what are the odds ( and they have to be really good)

19. Maybe …
• This should be…
– Some things I think,
– Some things I know,
– Some things I believe.