Chapter 1: The Nature and Relationships of Science, Technology and Society
Chapter 1: The Nature and Relationships of Science, Technology and Society
Learning Outcomes:
Science came from the Latin word “scientia” which means “knowledge”. Science has
traditionally been defined as an organized and systematized body of knowledge based
on facts. These facts are determined by an exact set of procedures popularly known as
scientific method.
G. Gore (1878) - science is the interpretation of nature and man is the interpreter.
A. Einstein (1940) - science is the attempts to make the chaotic diversity of our sense
experience correspond to a logically uniform system of thought.
Calleja (1987) – science is a scholarly activity whose province is the material world
including man, but excluding his non-biological activities.
Huxley (1974) – science is common sense…the necessary mode of working of the human
mind
Zimman (1976) – deplored that science is viewed as the product of the mind that tends
to ignore the body
Simpson (1974) – science is not a body of facts, not a method or a technique…science
is, or perhaps has, certainly a point of view, as systematic orientation, application to
all material aspects of our world, in everyone’s daily activities as well as in a
laboratory. Posadas (1982) – science is the dynamic cumulative system of verifiable
concepts, principles, methods, laws, theories and processes which seek to describe,
understand and predict natural phenomena.
Caoili (1968) – science is an activity concerned with the systematic understanding and
explanation of the laws of nature, centering on research toward discovery or
production of new knowledge as the end result.
Campbell (1974) – science is the study of those judgments concerning which universal
agreement can be obtained.
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Chapter 1: The Nature and
DEFINITIONS OF SCIENCE
1. SCIENCE IS A PROCESS
2. SCIENCE IS A PRODUCT
Science is our most effective way of understanding the natural world. All science
involves some form of observation or experiment, and some sort of theorizing about
how to explain the evidence collected. Clearly, science is a product of human
curiosity.
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limitation of science; the limitation of the human senses and the limitation of the human
mind. We cannot investigate what our senses cannot perceive, and we cannot explain
beyond what our human mind can understand. As a matter of fact, the optical and the
electron microscope, the optical and radio telescopes, and all the other new scientific
instruments are but the result of our attempts to extend our sense of perception.
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Chapter 1: The Nature and
What is Technology?
DEFINITIONS OF TECHNOLOGY
2. TECHNOLOGY AS A PRODUCT
a. A system of know-how, skills, techniques
and processes.
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b. It is like a language, rituals, values, commerce and arts, it is an intrinsic part of a
cultural system and it both shapes and reflects the system values. c. It is the
product of the scientific concept.
d. The complex combination of knowledge, materials and methods.
e. Material products of human making or fabrication.
f. Total societal enterprise.
Technology is any activity and/or product thereof that tends to increase man’s
chances of survival.
Is technology a part of science? The little we understood about nature we were able to
use to develop technologies that enabled us to survive and progress; and to be the
most dominant animal species on earth. But technology is not science. Science only
seeks to understand nature, no more no less; technology is but the application of what
science has discovered, for better for worst. That is why usefulness is not a
prerequisite to the generation of knowledge; on the contrary, usefulness is the primary
prerequisite to the generation of technology.
What is Society?
What is STS?
Importance of STS
Most people would agree that science and technology are of great
importance in the world today. It is equally clear that science can alter our entire
conception of ourselves and our place in the universe. The most famous instance of
this was the series of events known as the Scientific Revolution. During this turbulent
time in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Galileo and other scientists began to
argue that the Earth was not at the center of the universe, but whirled on its own axis,
and orbited around the Sun.
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DEFINITIONS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. A field of endeavor upon which a two-way interaction operates between science and
technology.
2. Interdependent and overlapping methods which employ both existing knowledge and
existing know-how.
3. A system of know-how, skills, techniques and processes which enable society to
produce, distribute, install, maintain or improve goods and services needed to satisfy
human needs.
4. Is an interdisciplinary field of study that seeks to explore and understand the many
ways that modern science and technology shape modern culture, values and
institutions, and how modern values shape science and technology.
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Chapter 1: The Nature and
1. Epistemological concerns. It cannot help us with questions about the God, the
ultimate Good, and Truth. It cannot deny nor confirm the existence of God, soul,
heaven and other uncertainties.
2. Metaphysical concerns. Immaterial and transcendental nature is beyond the grasp
of scientific inquiry. It cannot speak to issues of ultimate origin, meaning, or
morality.
3. Axiological concerns. It cannot answer questions about value.
4.Dependent on the values and personal beliefs of those who use it.
5. Use of natural resources that are being used in science and technology are limited
6. Data is limited to the physically observable.
7. Ultimately rest on past observations
8. Not all of its principles are applicable to different world phenomena.
9. Needs human intervention to carry out its functions properly
10. It can predict forces of nature but it cannot prevent the prevent
the
prevalence/occurrence
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11. Can not guarantee an ultimate solution to any specific problem.
12. Can not fully explain what is in the mind of a person.
There is a responsibility for all people to have some awareness of how science
and technology work. Science and technology are changing every aspect of our lives,
all the time. No one in the contemporary world is untouched, and the greater our
understanding of what is happening, the greater our ability to ensure that science and
technology are used in ways which benefit the human race, rather than leading to our
destruction.
STS
RELATIONSHIPS OF STS
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Chapter 1.1.b Characteristics of Science & Technology
Scientific Method
Scientific method
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- The prefix "super" means "above." So supernatural means "above (or beyond) the natural."
The toolbox of a scientist contains only the natural laws of the universe; supernatural
questions are outside their reach.
- Man has the inherent capacity to observe the things around him. Careful observation could
make one recognize that there is a problem or a phenomenon that is worthy of further
attention and study. After initial observations, details not previously observed can be
determined using instrumentation. Search and review of related literature (books, scientific
journals, online sources, etc.) should also be undertaken to learn more about the problem.
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3. Testing of Hypothesis (Experimentation and Conduct of Further Observations)
- In this phase, the scientist uses deductive reasoning involving the “if, then” logic.
Foresight or the capability to predict what will happen next is necessary to guide the
scientist on how to go about his experiment. The scientist must come up with an
experimental design that will make him generate meaningful results. Usually a
“control” or “control group” is set up side by side with the experimental group. This
contains all components and undergoes all parts of the experiment except for the factor
being tested.
- In any experiment, we can really only test one thing at a time. So we try to control all
the variables except one that we will change.
- Independent variable = the variable that you
change during the experiment
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- Dependent variable = the variable that you observe changes in (depends
on the independent variable)
4. Experimentation
- Your experiment tests whether your hypothesis is true or false.
- It is important that the test is fair:
- You change ONLY ONE variable at a time, keeping all others the same (constant).
- You should repeat your experiment several times to make sure your results weren’t
just an accident.
- Good precision = at least 3 trials
1. J. Watt’s invention of the condensation steam engine that was a prime mover of
transport and industry, was made possible by the concept of latent heat discovery of J.
Black.
2. London’s synthetic dye industry came from the accidental of aniline dye magenta by
W. Perkins attempt to synthesize quinine.
3.Hermann von Helmholtz’s study on sound waves inspired A. Graham Bell to create the
telephone.
4. The electrical industry owes much to the works of H.C. Oersted on magnetic fields
produced by electric currents which was used by A. Volta who invented electrical
batteries.
5. The dynamo, alternator and transformer were made based from the works of M.
Faraday on interrelated concepts of motion, magnetism and electricity.
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Chapter 1.1.c Characteristics of Science & Technology
Scientific Processes
Scientific Processes
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Chapter 1.1.c Characteristics of Science & Technology
Scientific Traits and Values
Intellectual Honesty
- This attitude allows a scientist to recognize the work done by other scientists before him.
This attitude is also shown by reporting data truthfully.
Open Mindedness
- A scientist is open minded. Open-mindedness is an attitude that allows a scientist to
look at other possibilities.
- Evaluate, validate and accept other people’s idea towards a question.
Curiosity
- This attitude/quality-curiosity-enables a scientist to try to discover more about the
things around him.
Objectivity
- A scientist must be objective in declaring results of his/her experiments and Judgment
is based on observable phenomena and not influenced by emotions or personal
prejudices
Precision
- A scientist must always consider the precision of his work if it forms a pattern or
repeatedly occurring in nature. Lack of precision to a work would mean inconsistency.
Objectivity
- The moral, social and personal responsibility and accountability of a scientist to all of
his works must be observed.
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Activity 1
A. True or False. Write true if the statement is correct and False if the statement is
incorrect.
B. Identification. Read each statement or question below carefully and fill in the
blank(s) with the correct answer. Answers may be more than one word.
1. It is the methodical manner to satisfy human curiosity and to be able to prove your
hypothesis. ______________
2. The variable that you change during the experiment. ______________
3. What is the aim/goal of science? ______________
4. What is the subject matter of science 10? ______________
5. The ______________ should be a statement that relates your dependent and
independent variables in a way that can be tested or measured. ______________
6. "If a plant receives fertilizer, then it will grow to be bigger than a plant that does not
receive fertilizer.” Identify which is independent variable and dependent variable.
__________________
7. You should repeat your experiment several times to make sure your results weren’t
just an accident. What is considered a good precision?
8. Science is a product of __________?
9. It is a hypothesis that has been repeatedly and extensively tested and always found
to be true. ______________
10.Contains all components and undergoes all parts of the experiment except for the
factor being tested. ______________
STS
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Activity 2
Scientific Method
5. What should be the new hypothesis and how would you test it?
Fill in the Blanks. Fill each Blank with the correct answer. Write your answer on the
blank provided.
We will often have questions after observing something. ___________ qualities is the first
step in science process. What details do I see? Can I smell it, touch it, hear it, or taste it?
Can I break it into parts? What is happening? “I noticed Ms. Vitti has a large, rough
object in her hand. It looks like it has sharp edges and I believe it’s a rock. I wonder, what
will happen if she throws it?”
Finding patterns is one way we organize our thinking. When we ____________ &
____________, we separate and put things together to understand how they relate to each
other. “That looks like a rock. I know that shape and size are hard and have sharp edges.
I could classify it with other rocks, other heavy objects, sharp objects…” (Knowing that it
is a fake sponge-rock, would you re-classify it?)
When we are surprised, it is because we had an idea that things were going to happen
differently. This is called _____________. You may have been surprised to find out the
object in Ms.Vitti’s hand was actually a sponge that looked like a rock. Why were you
surprised? Would you be surprised if we did it again? The way we think in science is
shaped by our everyday experiences.
How can we know if our prediction is right? ______________ is how we find out. What do we
need to do to find out the answer to our question? How will we know if we were right? How
do we know if we were wrong? Can you explain things in a different way? Make a plan and
do it! Did the object in Ms.Vitti’s hand behave like a rock when she threw it? Was your
prediction right?
When we are _______________, we find ways to share the steps we took in our process. We
learn from listening and answering questions. We find creative ways to explain our
thinking. At this science fair, you will have a chance to look at drawings, read writing,
and communicate to learn more about science process skills.
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Recommended learning materials and resources for supplementary reading
Assessment Task
Instructions: Create a 1-3 minute video showing a specific example of application in
scientific method (complete process). Post your video in your facebook account/youtube
account/google drive and submit your link in our google classroom.
________
100 %
Refferences
Kleinman, D, & Moore, K. (2014). Routledge handbook of science, technology, and society.
New York: Routledge.
Restivo, S. (2005). Science, technology, and society: An encyclopedia. New York: Oxford
University Press.
Department of science and technology studies, University of Vienna. (2015). Science,
technology & society: Knowledge in practice-short version (Video File].
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Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?y=DUT4]aZFGwv0
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