E3020 Soft-skills III - Scientific Thinking

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2020
Extent and Intensity
0/1/0. 1 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Taught online.
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Peter Šebej, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Jakub Urík, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Jakub Hofman, Ph.D.
RECETOX – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: Mgr. Peter Šebej, Ph.D.
Supplier department: RECETOX – Faculty of Science
Timetable of Seminar Groups
E3020/1: Tue 17:00–17:50 D29/252-RCX1
E3020/2: Wed 8:00–8:50 D29/252-RCX1
Prerequisites
High-school level of general knowledge. Attention of course E2020 or similar might be helpful. General interest in the science is an advantage.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of this course is to give an introduction to the concept ond metodology of scientific work. We will discuss the cornerstones of modern science: critical thinking, building of falsifiable hypotheses and their approval or disapproval. On the technical level we will work with theory of experimental work, produced data(sets), their analysis and commenting in a scientific text.
Learning outcomes
After successful course completion students will be able to:
Orientate in science and scientific metodology.
Suggest simples experiment, that should generate relevant and reproducible data.
Recognise common logical mistakes and fallacies and avoid them.
Write a technical report.
Syllabus
  • Beginning of thesemester we will concentrate on the theory of experimental scientific work – formulation of hypothesis, experiement planninng, work with data, primitive data analysis, hypothesis (dis)approval, formulation of conclusion, etc.
  • In the second part of semester we will discuss topics such as introduction to the critical thinking and scientific metodology.
  • 1. Introduction to the course, syllabus.
  • 2. What is and is not a science. Observation vs. experiment. Cumulative and self-correction ability of science. Scientific methodology.
  • 3. Experimental scientific work – formulation of hypothesis, its verifiabiliy and falsifiability.
  • 4. Experiment – planning, preparation, execution.
  • 5. Experiment – data collection, data analysis and presentation
  • 6. Critical data processing: reproducibility, relevancy, variability, quality.
  • 7. Analysis of real data. Random and systematic error, error propagation.
  • 8. Softwarove tools for graphic data reprezentation.
  • 9. Preparation of materials for a manuscript: experimental part, results.
  • 10. Critical thinking. Cognitive bias, limits of human mind. Subconscious bias.
  • 11. Argumentation and argumentation fallacies and misconceptions.
  • 12. Scientific writing: technical report, simple scientific text. Structure of texts.
  • 13. Discussion and final assessment.
Literature
    recommended literature
  • KUHN, Thomas S. The structure of scientific revolutions. Edited by Ian Hacking. Fourth edition. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. xlvi, 217. ISBN 9780226458113. 2012. info
  • POPPER, Karl R. Logika vědeckého bádání. Translated by J. C. B. Mohr. 1. vyd. Praha: Oikoymenh. 617 s. ISBN 8086005453. 1997. info
    not specified
  • SYNEK, Miloslav, Pavel MIKAN and Hana VÁVROVÁ. Jak psát bakalářské, diplomové, doktorské a jiné písemné práce. 3., přeprac. vyd. Praha: Oeconomica. 61, [8]. ISBN 9788024518190. 2011. info
  • BRADBURY, Andrew. Jak úspěšně prezentovat a přesvědčit. 2. vyd. Brno: Computer Press. viii, 109. ISBN 9788025116227. 2007. info
  • KOHOUT, Jaroslav. Rétorika : umění mluvit a jednat s lidmi. 4. dopl. vyd. Praha: Management Press. 169 s. ISBN 8072610724. 2002. info
  • POPPER, Karl R. The logic of scientific discovery. London: Routledge. 479 s. ISBN 041507892X. 2001. info
  • The demon-haunted world : science as a candle in the dark. Edited by Carl Sagan. New York: Ballantine Books. xv, 457. ISBN 0345409469. 1996. info
Teaching methods
seminar and discussion of the topics, lecture, eventually practice with computers
Assessment methods
Credit is assigned after presenting a short essay on a topic which is coherent with the topics covered by this seminar and attending at least 75% of the seminar hours. Final credit is usually given in the last hours of the semester.
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2020, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/autumn2020/E3020