Scientific Reasoning and Argumentation From A Bayesian Perspective
Abstract/Contents
- Abstract
- Much of the value of science lies in the critical, skeptical spirit that emerges from the practice of scientific reasoning. Yet, such practices – including argumentation – are notably absent from most classrooms that are dominated by explanation rather than argument and recall rather than reasoning. Ensuring that such experiences are a common feature of science education means that the field requires a stronger and clearer conceptualization of the common forms of scientific reasoning and the nature of the knowledge on which it depends. Only then, will it be possible to specify the kinds of performances we might reasonably expect students to attain, and only then will it be possible to construct assessments which are seen to be valid measures of student capability. To date, research in psychology and sociology offer empirically based descriptions of individual’s capabilities whilst work in philosophy offers a somewhat different, normative, and idealized account of how scientists reason. In this chapter, we develop an argument for how these two accounts might be synthesized and bring greater clarity and validity to the constructs we might seek to assess. Specifically, we argue that a form of Bayesian reasoning offers the most comprehensive articulation of reasoning in a scientific context. As we will show, not only does it explain existing controversies that exist within the body of empirical research but it also offers an explanatory account of why critique is an essential element of scientific practice and effective pedagogy in science.
Description
| Type of resource | text |
|---|---|
| Date created | 2012 |
Creators/Contributors
| Author | Szu, Evan |
|---|---|
| Author | Osborne, Jonathan |
Subjects
| Subject | Stanford Graduate School of Education |
|---|---|
| Subject | argumentation |
| Subject | reasoning |
| Subject | certainty |
| Subject | critique |
| Subject | learning |
| Subject | scientific reasoning |
| Subject | Bayesian inference |
| Genre | Article |
Bibliographic information
| Related item | |
|---|---|
| Location | https://purl.stanford.edu/kw265kc5457 |
Access conditions
- Use and reproduction
- User agrees that, where applicable, content will not be used to identify or to otherwise infringe the privacy or confidentiality rights of individuals. Content distributed via the Stanford Digital Repository may be subject to additional license and use restrictions applied by the depositor.
- License
- This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license (CC BY).
Preferred citation
- Preferred Citation
- Szu, E., & Osborne, J. (2012). Scientific reasoning and argumentation from a Bayesian perspective. In M. S. Khine (Ed.), Perspectives on Scientific Argumentation (pp. 55-71). Netherlands : Springer. Available at: http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-94-007-2470-9_4
Collection
Graduate School of Education Open Archive
View other items in this collection in SearchWorksContact information
- Contact
- evan.szu@gmail.com
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