Topic 1 DQ 1

Topic 1 DQ 1

Dec 6-8, 2021

Compare the criteria of the scientific method with everyday decision making. In what ways is the scientific method superior? Is it inferior in any way? Can it blind us into thinking it is the only way to gather and interpret data? From your research or experience, provide an example to support your answer, and respond substantively to at least two of your classmates' responses.

Juan Castillo II

Posted Date

Dec 8, 2021, 11:42 PM

Hello everyone,

The scientific method is an experimental theory in place that will include a hypothesis, observation, as well as redefine your hypothesis and drawing conclusions. Decision making is based on an individual's feelings, thoughts, as well as motive and actions. Usually when someone makes huge decisions they do their research and get as much information as possible before finally deciding. The difference between the scientific method and everyday decision making is that scientific method is based on science and everyday decision making is based on our personal experiences and beliefs which can also be referred to as commonsense psychology as it is rooted in nonscientific data (Myers & Hansen, 2012). Scientific method is superior due to the fact that the research being tested will support a theory in place. Lastly, I believe it can blind us occasionally in making our decisions, however, not always. We are all human and for some decisions we do take our time to make our best choice with the information and knowledge that we know, but at times our feelings get the best of us and take over.

Thank you all, God bless.

Myers, A., & Hansen, C. H. (2012). Experimental psychology (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth. ISBN-13: 9780495602316

Alexia Ojeda

Posted Date

Dec 8, 2021, 10:23 PM

Hello everyone, 

When I think of the scientific method, I think of going through multiple steps of making sure that the original thought or idea is being tested and thoroughly looked at, this is how it can be seen as being superior due to it having facts supported it. When we have everyday decision making, this is more of a simpler way to make a decision about something without having tested thoughts or ideas, we may use everyday life to help us make the decisions and use what is available around us (Myers & Hansen, 2012). It can blind us into thinking that it is the only way to gather and interpret data because I know when I investigate a study or research, I am wanting to see that they took the methods of the scientific method for the end results. 

An example would be, before I took courses that helped me realize I need to make sure I am getting my information from credible sources, I would believe things that I saw from an online search. This was uneducated of me because I was not making sure they were giving correct information, then when I started taking courses that helped me realize this was not the right way to research, I saw what I was missing when I was previously researching items.