Solving Everyday Problems with the Scientific Method

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1 Solving Everyday Problems with the Scientific Method Downloaded from Solving Everyday Problems with the Scientific Method Thinking Like a Scientist SECOND EDITION

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3 Solving Everyday Solving Everyday Problems with the Scientific Method Downloaded from Problems with the Scientific Method SECOND EDITION Thinking Like a Scientist Don K Mak Angela T Mak Anthony B Mak World Scientific NEW JERSEY LONDON SINGAPORE BEIJING SHANGHAI HONG KONG TAIPEI CHENNAI TOKYO

4 Published by World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd. 5 Toh Tuck Link, Singapore USA office: 27 Warren Street, Suite , Hackensack, NJ UK office: 57 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9HE Solving Everyday Problems with the Scientific Method Downloaded from British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. SOLVING EVERYDAY PROBLEMS WITH THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD Thinking Like a Scientist Second Edition Copyright 2017 by World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd. All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the publisher. For photocopying of material in this volume, please pay a copying fee through the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, USA. In this case permission to photocopy is not required from the publisher. ISBN ISBN (pbk) Desk Editor: Sandhya Venkatesh Typeset by Stallion Press enquiries@stallionpress.com Printed in Singapore

5 Solving Everyday Problems with the Scientific Method Downloaded from In memory of My uncle, Mr. Mak Chung Lun, a kind-hearted gentleman, who was separated from his wife after only a few years of marriage +. DKM + His observant mother, Ms Chow Chu, repeatedly cautioned him not to marry his wife. Even on the night before his wedding, she pleaded with him, It is still not too late. I cannot stay with you for the rest of your life. You are the one who will be living with your spouse. Her scientific premonition proved to be true. v

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7 Preface to the Second Edition Solving Everyday Problems with the Scientific Method Downloaded from The first edition of this book was published in January 2009, and quickly got onto the Publisher s bestselling list. It was subsequently translated into Korean, simplified Chinese (People s Republic of China), traditional Chinese (Taiwan), and Arabic. The book has also received quite a number of reviews, with both positive and negative comments. While the positive comments can give someone a pat on the back and are encouraging, the negative comments can be considered as thought-provoking prompting the authors to think and re-think their theses. Negative comments, we believe, are better than no comments at all, as it would imply that whatever is written is worth commenting upon to begin with. This somewhat parallels what a physics professor once said that it is more important to publish a paper which is incorrect but significant, than to publish a paper which is correct but insignificant. Furthermore, negative comments would allow the authors to correct, modify or even refute their theses in the true sense of the scientific spirit. One of the most negative but most interesting comments came from a reviewer (presumably a scientist) who wrote a threepage review titled The subtle myth in the United States online retailer Amazon.com. He primarily raised two objections: (1) The Scientific Method does not exist scientists do not think along the line as described in the Scientific Method when they do their research. vii

8 (2) No one would benefit in solving everyday problems by using the Scientific Method. As a matter of fact, their creativity can be hampered. Solving Everyday Problems with the Scientific Method Downloaded from It should first be noted that the key components of the Scientific Method are observation, hypothesis, and experiment, but not necessarily have to be in that order. By observation, we would mean collecting information using all our five senses, and that would include reading books, journals, etc., and discussing with others. Hypothesis would mean coming up with an explanation, an idea, a premise or a plan of action. The hypothesis needs to be tested to see whether it works, or whether there is some truth in it. The order of execution of these components is not that important, and they can possibly happen at the same time. For example, one would make observation during experimentation. Nor is it necessary that all the elements have to be carried out. A theoretician, in solving his theoretical problems, would not need to get his hands dirty to do experiments. However, he does have to come up with ideas or techniques how his problem can be solved, and test whether some of the ideas can lead to his solution. As such, he does do experiments in his own mind. It is thus somewhat difficult to visualize that any scientists doing serious science can do research without working along this line of thought. They do not have to consciously think about the Method, which probably should have been ingrained in their mind as a second nature. The significance and practical value of the Scientific Method can be seen in areas like Traditional Chinese Medicine. In the past, Chinese medicine practitioners made claims with hardly any evidence to back them up. Now, evidence-based studies are advocated and enthusiasts have applied scientific methodologies in their pursuit for modernizing the ancient means of health maintenance. viii

9 Solving Everyday Problems with the Scientific Method Downloaded from With regards to the second objection of the reviewer, it should be noted that people are born differently, and therefore think differently. No medication is beneficial to 100% of the population. If someone finds that they are allergic or have some kind of adverse effect to certain medication, they, of course, should stop taking it. By the same token, if someone finds that the Scientific Method deters them from solving any problems, they should try using other methods, or no method at all if that pleases them. The choice is theirs. But that does not mean that everybody should be told categorically not to use the Scientific Method, as many people do benefit from employing it. The suggestion that this book would be useful is backed by some renowned scientists. Prof George B Kauffman, a chemist at California State University, wrote: This ingenious and entertaining volume should be useful to anyone in the general public interested in self-help books; undergraduate students majoring in education or behavioral psychology; and graduates and researchers interested in problem-solving, creativity, and scientific research methodology. Prof John Moffat, a physicist at University of Toronto, also wrote: The book was fun: a clever and entertaining introduction to basic logical thinking and maths. A retired high school teacher wrote in the Science Study Monthly (Taiwan) that teachers can employ the principles and examples described in the book to help students apply integrative thinking to open-ended questions, enhance the process of scientific inquiry, and harness scientific knowledge to identify and explore solutions to problems. The book has been chosen as key reference in university and high school courses. ix

10 Solving Everyday Problems with the Scientific Method Downloaded from In this second edition, we add some more theories which we hope can help in solving everyday problems. We originally were also going to delete some examples which we thought were too trivial and obvious. However, some readers wrote that they found those examples useful. Thus, in the end, we deleted only a few examples which we thought were a bit outdated. At the same time, we updated the book by including quite a few examples which we think are interesting. As the book appears to appeal to a lot of Asian readers, many added examples took place in Asia. We hope that readers can further comment on the book, such that we can make additional modification when opportunities arise. Don K Mak Angela T Mak Anthony B Mak x

11 Preface to the First Edition Solving Everyday Problems with the Scientific Method Downloaded from Bunny was born a happy baby. She spent her whole day playing, eating, and sleeping. There was nothing to worry about. Life was great. As time went on, she grew a bit bigger, and she was more aware of her surroundings. And she had to take responsibility to take care of herself. Events did not always happen the way that she wanted. Problems occurred that she did not know how to handle. Life became miserable. One day, Bunny met Mr. Rabbit. Mr. Rabbit is a wise sage. He listened to Bunny's difficulties. He understood what her obstacle was. So he taught her The Scientific Method. Not only would The Scientific Method help her solve problems in situations that she is familiar with, it would also improve her thinking skills in environments that she is not accustomed to. Bunny learnt The Scientific Method, and she practices it every day if and when she gets a chance. She is able to solve more problems than she ever could. And she lives happier ever after. xi

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13 Contents Preface to the Second Edition Preface to the First Edition vii xi Solving Everyday Problems with the Scientific Method Downloaded from 1. Prelude 1 2. The Scientific Method Edwin Smith papyrus Greek philosophy (4 th century BC) Islamic philosophy (8 th century AD 15 th century AD) European Science (12 th century AD 16 th century AD Scientific Revolution (1543 AD 18 th century AD) Humanism and Empiricism The Scientific Method Application of the Scientific Method to Everyday Problem Observation External information Missed information Misinformation Hidden information No information Unaware information Evidence-based information Internal information 48 (A) Emotional Self-denied information Biased information 49 xiii

14 (B) Unemotional Unexploited information Peripheral information 52 Solving Everyday Problems with the Scientific Method Downloaded from 4. Hypothesis Abduction Explain the past and present; predict the future Albert Einstein Experiment Experiment versus hypothesis Platonic, Aristotelian, Baconian and Galilean methodology Recognition John Nash Problem Situation and Problem definition Perspectives on different levels Perspectives on the same level Induction and Deduction Induction Deduction Reductio ad absurdum Alternative Solutions Brainstorming Operations research and management science Lotion bottle with a pump dispenser Relation Creativity Ordinary thinking 206 xiv

15 Solving Everyday Problems with the Scientific Method Downloaded from Creative thinking Knowledge Insight Unconscious mind Double Helix Genetic material Watson and Crick at Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge Rosalind Franklin at King's College, London The triple helix model The double helix model Creative thinking and ordinary thinking Scientific Research and Scientific Method Can we be more creative? Mathematics Fermi problems Probable value Epilogue 319 Bibliography 323 Index 330 xv

16 Claimers and Disclaimers Solving Everyday Problems with the Scientific Method Downloaded from The events given as examples in this book have actually occurred. However, the names of the people, places, as well as some of the minor details have been changed to protect privacy. Solutions of some medical problems mentioned in this book may not work for everyone. Patients should observe, hypothesize, and experiment under the supervision of medical doctors. xvi