Research produces knowledge which could be used for the solution of problems as well as for the
generation of universal theories, principles and laws. But all knowledge is not science. The critical
factor that separates scientific knowledge from other ways of acquiring knowledge is that it uses
scientific approach. What is this approach? Or what is science?
When most people hear the word science, the first image that comes to mind is one of test tubes,
computers, rocket ships, and people in white lab coats. These outward trappings are part of science.
Some sciences, such as the natural sciences deal with the physical and material world. Some other
sciences involve the study of people – their beliefs, behavior, interactions, attitudes, institutions, and so
forth. They are sometimes called soft sciences. This is not that their work is sloppy or lack rigor but
because their subject matter, human social life, is fluid, formidable to observe, and hard to measure
precisely with laboratory instruments. The subject matter of a science (e.g. human attitudes,
protoplasm, or galaxies) determines the techniques and instruments (e.g. surveys, microscopes, or
telescopes) used by it.
Science is a way to produce knowledge, which is based on truth and attempts to be universal. In other
words science is a method, a procedure to produce knowledge i.e. discovering universalities/principles,
laws, and theories through the process of observation and re-observation. Observation here implies that
scientists use “sensory experiences” for the study of the phenomena. They use their five senses, which
are possessed by every normal human being. They not only do the observation of a phenomenon but
also repeat the observation, may be several times. The researchers do so because they want to be
accurate and definite about their findings
Re-observation may be made by the same researcher at a different time and place or done by other
professionals at some other time or place. All such observations are made in this universe where a
normal professional human being can go, make the observation and come back. Therefore we are
focusing on this universe not on the one hereafter. By repeating the observation, the researchers want to
be definite and positive about their findings. Those who want to be definite and positive are often
referred to as positivists. The researchers do not leave their findings into scattered bits and pieces.
Rather the results are organized, systematized, and made part of the existing body of knowledge; and
this is how the knowledge grows. All this procedure for the creation of knowledge is called a scientific
method, whereby the consequent knowledge may be referred to as scientific knowledge. In this way
science refers to both a system for producing knowledge and the knowledge produced from that system.
Since the subject matters of the researchers differ, therefore, we have the diversification of different
sciences: broadly natural or physical sciences and human sciences
generation of universal theories, principles and laws. But all knowledge is not science. The critical
factor that separates scientific knowledge from other ways of acquiring knowledge is that it uses
scientific approach. What is this approach? Or what is science?
When most people hear the word science, the first image that comes to mind is one of test tubes,
computers, rocket ships, and people in white lab coats. These outward trappings are part of science.
Some sciences, such as the natural sciences deal with the physical and material world. Some other
sciences involve the study of people – their beliefs, behavior, interactions, attitudes, institutions, and so
forth. They are sometimes called soft sciences. This is not that their work is sloppy or lack rigor but
because their subject matter, human social life, is fluid, formidable to observe, and hard to measure
precisely with laboratory instruments. The subject matter of a science (e.g. human attitudes,
protoplasm, or galaxies) determines the techniques and instruments (e.g. surveys, microscopes, or
telescopes) used by it.
Science is a way to produce knowledge, which is based on truth and attempts to be universal. In other
words science is a method, a procedure to produce knowledge i.e. discovering universalities/principles,
laws, and theories through the process of observation and re-observation. Observation here implies that
scientists use “sensory experiences” for the study of the phenomena. They use their five senses, which
are possessed by every normal human being. They not only do the observation of a phenomenon but
also repeat the observation, may be several times. The researchers do so because they want to be
accurate and definite about their findings
Re-observation may be made by the same researcher at a different time and place or done by other
professionals at some other time or place. All such observations are made in this universe where a
normal professional human being can go, make the observation and come back. Therefore we are
focusing on this universe not on the one hereafter. By repeating the observation, the researchers want to
be definite and positive about their findings. Those who want to be definite and positive are often
referred to as positivists. The researchers do not leave their findings into scattered bits and pieces.
Rather the results are organized, systematized, and made part of the existing body of knowledge; and
this is how the knowledge grows. All this procedure for the creation of knowledge is called a scientific
method, whereby the consequent knowledge may be referred to as scientific knowledge. In this way
science refers to both a system for producing knowledge and the knowledge produced from that system.
Since the subject matters of the researchers differ, therefore, we have the diversification of different
sciences: broadly natural or physical sciences and human sciences
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