The Conduct of Inquiry An Introduction of Logic and Scientific Method

by Kitchener, Richard

• ISBN13: 9780761813071
• ISBN10: 0761813071
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-02-18
• Publisher: UPA

Summary

The Conduct of Inquiry is a practical introduction to logic and scientific method. It provides a comprehensive and current discussion of the logic of scientific method and scientific reasoning. The author places consistent stress on the evaluation of actual scientific reasoning and the development of critical thinking skills by employing numerous examples that require the application of the principles discussed in the text. Each chapter lays out basic, underlying principles of logic and scientific method and illustrates them by reference to detailed case studies in the history of science. The method of proceeding from concrete case studies to general principle embodied in the examples provides an understandable progression for those learning the basic ideas of logic and scientific method.

Table of Contents

Preface	xv
PART I Introduction	1	(48)
1 Logic and Scientific Method General Introduction	1	(14)
2 Scientific Knowledge	15	(34)
PART 2 Logic	49	(126)
3 Introduction to Logic	51	(25)
4 Deductive Logic	76	(27)
5 Inductive Logic	103	(34)
6 Probability	137	(38)
PART 3 Scientific Method	175	(314)
Introduction	177	(14)
7 Scientific Observation	191	(30)
8 Qualitative Classification Classification and Definition	221	(42)
9 Quantitative Description Descriptive Statistics and Measurement	263	(34)
10 Eliminative Induction Mill's Methods of Experimental Inquiry	297	(30)
11 Analogy	327	(26)
12 Hypotheses and Hypothesis-Testing The Hypothetico-Deductive Method	353	(44)
13 The Experimental Method	397	(56)
14 Statistical Inference	453	(36)
Answers to Selected Exercises	489	(36)
Glossary	525	(16)
References	541	(10)
Index	551	(7)
Author's Biographical Sketch	558