Unit 6
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Task 1. Read and learn the words and word
combinations.
to recognize – визнавати
recognition - визнання
sequence
of procedures – ряд
процедур
to establish – встановлювати, визначати
to obtain – отримувати
to list – перераховувати
solution – рішення, вирішення, розв’язання
abandonment of the hypothesis – відмова від гіпотези
to discard – відкидати, залишати
substantiating
data – достовірні
дані
eventually – кінець кінцем, зрештою
rank – розряд,
ранг
to sway – мати вплив, переконувати
solely – виключно, тільки
Task 2. Make up sentences with the words given in task 1.
Task 3. Try to guess the
meaning of the following phrases
1. sequence of procedures — the
regular order of doing things.
2. the emphasis passed from ... to — something became more important than which accounts.
3. satisfactorily for — which is
a good explanation.
4. of amount of substantiating
data — number of facts that support hypothesis.
5. hypothesis
advances to the rank of a theory — hypothesis gradually changes
into a theory.
Task
4. Read
the text and discuss it. Write a synopsis of the text in five sentences.
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
As man's knowledge of
natural phenomena increased, there came a time when he recognized that his
growing knowledge of nature was the result of his application of a particular
method of investigation. It seemed clear that a special sequence of procedures was applied to establish the working
principles of science. The emphasis
passed from the knowledge itself to the method by which that knowledge
was obtained. This rather well defined procedure has come to be known as the
Scientific Method. The steps in the procedure may be listed as follows:
First — the
recognition of the problem. Second — collection of relevant
facts or data. Third — analysis of data and proposing a solution (і. e. а hypothesis).
Fourth — performance of test experiments. Fifth — acceptance,
modification or abandonment of the hypothesis in the light of the results of
the test experiments.
If the hypothesis is
discarded as the result of the test experiments, a new one will be set up and
steps three, four and five will be repeated until an explanation is found which
accounts satisfactorily for all
the known experimental facts. As the amount
of substantiating data becomes larger and larger, the hypothesis advances to the rank of a theory and eventually may be accepted
as true.
It should be noted that in
general one adopts first the most obvious hypothesis, that is, the one that at
the moment seems to offer the simplest explanation of the observed facts. This
hypothesis may or may not prove to be satisfactory in the light of later
evidence.
In coming to a conclusion
about any hypothesis, the true scientists are swayed only by experimental
evidence. They are not, for instance, governed principally by what they or anyone else want the
result to be, by the reputation of the man who advanced the hypothesis, by what
the majority of people think about it, or by any similar emotional reaction to
the problem. They will constantly check their conclusions and hypotheses by
experiment and be guided solely by the results thus obtained.
Task 5. Translate the following words and word
combinations:
Метод дослідження,
застосовувати ряд процедур, встановлювати принципи, визнання проблеми, контрольні
експерименти, відкидати гіпотезу, перейти до розряду теорії, найочевидніша
гіпотеза, найпростіше пояснення, висувати гіпотезу, перевіряти висновки,
керуватися отриманими результатами.
Task 6. Choose
the right variant
1.
People’s growing knowledge of nature is the result of …
a) proving obvious
hypothesis;
b) a successful experiment;
c) application of a
particular method of investigation.
2. If the hypothesis is
discarded …
a) relevant facts or data
will be collected;
b) a new hypothesis will be
set up;
c) a scientist will offer
the simplest explanation of the observed facts.
a) the most obvious
hypothesis;
b) known experimental
facts.
c) the method by which
knowledge was obtained.
4.
The true scientists are swayed only by …
a) the reputation of the
man who advanced the hypothesis;
b) what the majority of
people think about a certain fact;
c) experimental evidence.
Task 7. Put questions to underlined
words.
1.The steps will be repeated until an explanation is found.
2. The hypothesis advances to
the rank of a theory.
4. The true scientists are swayed only by experimental
evidence.
5. True scientists will constantly check their conclusions and hypotheses
by experiment.
Task 8. Translate the following sentences.
1. Виникнення наукового методу було спричинене збільшенням людських знань про природу і навколишнє середовище. 2. Порядок проведення певних
дій спонукав встановлення наукових принципів дослідження. 3. Наукове
дослідження проводиться у декілька етапів. 4. Постановка проблеми та аналіз
даних є невід’ємними складовими наукового дослідження. 5. Якщо гіпотеза не
підтверджується експериментами, то висувається нова гіпотеза і вчені шукають її
підтвердження. 6. Зазвичай спочатку приймається найочевидніша і найпростіша на
даний момент гіпотеза. 7. Справжній вчений керується лише підтвердженими
експериментальними даними і завжди перевіряє свої висновки та гіпотези.
Task 9. Speak on the following problems and discuss them with
your colleagues:
a)
methods,
you are going to apply in your investigation;
b)
the
hypothesis existing in the area of your investigation.
c)
Describe the materials and
methods used in one of your own investigations. Write a report on your own research
activities. Define the subject of your current research work. Say how long this
work has been under way. Indicate the current interest in the problem. State
the problem and define the aim of your report. Indicate the reporting period.
Describe the requirement for the study with respect to the materials,
equipment, methods or specific condition that were to be met at different
stages of the research. Report the main results of your current work and make
an attempt at their preliminary interpretation. Outline the part of the
research that still remains to be done and the time necessary to bring in to
conclusion. Write a few words about a possible significance of your current
research in case it is completed successfully.
Lexical revision. Commonly misused words. Translate the sentences.
Choose the correct usage with the help of a dictionary if necessary.
2. An
attorney often cites/sights /sites previous cases that support
his argument. One of the most beautiful cites/sights /sites in
the country is the
3. I find this coarse
/course fabric to be abrasive. That is an acceptable coarse
/course of action.
4. Rice
nicely complements /compliments a chicken diner. I'd like to complement
/compliment you for doing such a thorough job.
5. I will communicate
with (call, write, speak) / contact (touch) you in the morning. Superglue adheres on communicate/contact.
Additional reading
Read the text and answer
the questions.
SCIENTIFIC
METHOD AND METHODS OF SCIENCE
It is sometimes said that
there is no such thing as the called "scientific method"; there are
only methods used in science. Nevertheless, it seems clear that there is often
a special sequence of procedures which is involved in the establishment of the
working principles of science. This sequence is as follows: (1) a problem
is recognized, and as much information as possible is collected; (2) a
solution (i.e. a hypothesis) is proposed and the consequences arising out of
this solution are deduced; (3) these deductions are tested by experiment, and as a result the
hypothesis is accepted, modified or discarded.
Check up for comprehension.
Find two sentences which express two different viewpoints on the
existence of "scientific method". 2. What words show that the
first sentence is an opinion? 3. What words show that these viewpoints are in opposition? 4. Find the
words equivalent to "scientific method". 5. What procedure
does the scientist follow in his research?