SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION

 Might sound funny but it's true...

It is not wise to ignore evidences through observations directly..

  The scientific method that we learned in lower grades consisted of a few basic steps....

But in real research and investigations is not as simple as thought. It could be considered as a web connecting several steps.

 In this web, it is also important to pay attention to the basic step of collecting relevant facts while considering its consequences as shown in Semmweis experiment as shown in the context.

STEPS OF SCIENTIFIC METHOD

The first step it is important to collect relevant data through observations. This article aims to investigate issues in selecting data in Semmelweis’ investigations and consequents with such situations in the modern day. Next these facts are needed to be organized methodically. Hypothesis is a good prediction as an outcome of a problem. An experiment can also be used to discover a hypothesis.  A good scientific investigation needs to be testable. This is done using an experiment.

SEMMELWEIS INVESTIGATION

 Scientific inquiry is a method by which people build knowledge about the natural world.  Semmelweis used several hypotheses as a goal of finding a reason for childbed fever which caused more death in mothers in the 1st ward than in the 2nd ward [1]. The doctor ignored diet and general care as facts just considering them to be the same in both the wards. This could cause errors. Later it was found that this disease was caused by microorganisms, so rejecting “general care” as a factor is not reasonable. Another factor that was used is crowding. As a test, he reduced the number of workers in the first ward which even increased the number of deaths in the first ward. Testing this fact has even caused ethical issues as he has to account for deaths due to lack of workers. This is similar to vaccination for corona virus. At the beginning there were several cases of adverse side effects and even death due to blood clots. Making sure that the vaccine is safe enough is an ethical requirement which was not paid enough attention to. Thus, people involved in scientific work needs to pay enough attention when selecting relevant factors and also their consequences.

 

REFERENCES 

 [1] Hempel, C.G., 1966. Philosophy of Natural Science. Printice Hall. Inc., Englewood Cliffs.