Understanding Scientific Reasoning [Paperback]

Ronald N. Giere (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0155016253 | ISBN-13: 978-0155016255 | Publication Date: November 1, 1996 | Edition: 4

UNDERSTANDING SCIENTIFIC REASONING develops critical reasoning skills and works with students to improve their level of scientific and technological literacy. Giere teaches students how to understand and critically evaluate scientific information they encounter in popular and professional media. With its focus on science, Understanding Scientific Reasoning helps students learn how to examine scientific reports with a reasonable degree of sophistication. Giere explains how to reason through case studies using the same informal logic skills employed by scientists. Students sharpen their abilities to analyze a complex series of propositions and hypotheses in the same manner as scientists.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Ronald N. Giere (Ph.D., Cornell University) is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Minnesota and a former Director of the Center for Philosophy of Science at the University of Minnesota. In addition to many papers in the philosophy of science, he is the author of UNDERSTANDING SCIENTIFIC REASONING (4th ed 1997); EXPLAINING SCIENCE: A COGNITIVE APPROACH (1988); and SCIENCE WITHOUT LAWS (1999). He has also edited several volumes of papers in the philosophy of science, including, most recently, "Cognitive Models of Science" (1992) and "Origins of Logical Empiricism" (1996). Professor Giere is a Fellow of The American Association for the Advancement of Science, a long-time member of the editorial board of the journal "Philosophy of Science," and a past president of the Philosophy of Science Association. His current research focuses on scientific cognition as a form of distributed cognition and on the perspectival nature of scientific knowledge."

About the Author

Ronald N. Giere (Ph.D., Cornell University) is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Minnesota and a former Director of the Center for Philosophy of Science at the University of Minnesota. In addition to many papers in the philosophy of science, he is the author of UNDERSTANDING SCIENTIFIC REASONING (4th ed 1997); EXPLAINING SCIENCE: A COGNITIVE APPROACH (1988); and SCIENCE WITHOUT LAWS (1999). He has also edited several volumes of papers in the philosophy of science, including, most recently, ?Cognitive Models of Science? (1992) and ?Origins of Logical Empiricism? (1996). Professor Giere is a Fellow of The American Association for the Advancement of Science, a long-time member of the editorial board of the journal ?Philosophy of Science,? and a past president of the Philosophy of Science Association. His current research focuses on scientific cognition as a form of distributed cognition and on the perspectival nature of scientific knowledge.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing; 4 edition (November 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0155016253
• ISBN-13: 978-0155016255
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,773,545 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting; all educated people should read it!, October 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Understanding Scientific Reasoning (Paperback)

This book is much more interesting than the publisher's blurb suggests. Every day, educated people have to deal with the results of scientific study. If you're foggy on why a "significant difference" is not always a large difference (and vice versa), or if you haven't quite realized that theories can be disproved but not proved, you need this book.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book; Inspiring Text, December 8, 1999

By 

Eric "Life is short, and we do not have much ... (Palo Alto, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Understanding Scientific Reasoning (Paperback)

I've used this book since the first edition years ago whenever I teach our Logic and Scientific Reasoning Course. It is the best explanation I've ever seen of the process of scientific reasoning and why it is so successful. Students really get a grasp of what's going on in all branches of science, historical as well as experimental, and they can do it on their own. Great stuff, with lots of interesting and illuminating examples.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Dumbed down reasong, August 7, 2010

By 

Claire Jones (Huntsville, AL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Understanding Scientific Reasoning (Paperback)

I purchased this book because my copy of Giere's Understanding of Scientific Reasoning done back in 1979. I have lost count in how many times I have referred to that book for illuminating something about statistics or hypothesis testing or logic.
What is wrong? The other authors have convinced Giere to cut 50 or so pages from his original. In doing so, they have "Gutted" the in-depth material necessary for a thorough understanding of scientific reasoning. What is left is a "watered-down", "Dumbed-down" book on the nature of scientific reasoning without teaching "Why?"
Material about the logic of arguments, and necessary and sufficient are missing. Missing, also, from the Testing Theoretical Hypotheses is material on "What is a good test of a theoretical hypothesis?" Sadly, the whole book as a mere abridgment of the original. I wish Dr. Ronald Giere would republish his original book or let Google Books have the original or let Dover republish it.
The new book does have some features that are an improvement. Their examples are up-to-date. In their chapter 2: A Program for Evaluating Theoretical Hypotheses, they present their "Program" of 6 steps. They use good examples to back up their evaluation program. I have used it several times, myself, in evaluating academic articles.
Should you buy this book? If you are not well schooled in research methods, then buy this book. It has some useful material. If you are well schooled in research methods but have not used them for a while, it might benefit you. If you want more in-depth knowledge then stay away. Contact Ronald Giere and implore him to release his earlier work for us.