How do description, prediction, explanation, and control in science differ from casual observation in everyday life?
What will be an ideal response?
In scientific research, description begins with more systematic attention to specific details. In everyday observation, we don't have a detail plan about observing behavior, so our descriptions may be idiosyncratic and incomplete.
Scientific predictions are generally made for carefully defined and specified circumstances; casual predictions are much more vague.
Explanations in science involve careful description of the phenomena under consideration and when they will and will not occur, and the reasons the behavior does or does not occur; casual explanations typically only involve when a behavior will occur and are usually rely on loose criteria for support.
In science, the adequacy of description, prediction, and explanation that leads to control of behavior is tested in carefully controlled circumstances, often in laboratories where extraneous factors might affect the behavior in question. In everyday applications of control, the situation is likely to be so complex that it isn't possible to identify a single cause of behavior, so we don't know exactly how to control it.
You might also like to view...
When it comes to taxes, which of the following statements is true?
a. There is much agreement on what is the best type of tax, but not much agreement on the tax rates. b. Income taxes provide the most consistent stream of revenue for the government. c. Overall, there is considerable disagreement over what is the best type of tax. d. Sales taxes are the primary mechanism by which the federal government raises revenues.
Article One, Section Eight of the U.S. Constitution does what?
a. Details the powers of the President b. Details the powers of the Supreme Court c. Details the powers of Congress d. Details the powers of the States e. Details the powers of the electorate.