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Kesten C. Green
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The Scientific Method: A Guide to Finding Useful Knowledge

by J. Scott Armstrong (Author), Kesten C. Green (Author)
3.7 3.7 out of 5 stars 10 ratings
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The scientific method delivers prosperity, yet scientific practice has become subject to corrupting influences from within and without the scientific community. This essential reference is intended to help remedy those threats. The authors identify eight essential criteria for the practice of science and provide checklists to help avoid costly failures in scientific practice. Not only for scientists, this book is for all stakeholders of the broad enterprise of science. Science administrators, research funders, journal editors, and policymakers alike will find practical guidance on how they can encourage scientific research that produces useful discoveries. Journalists, commentators, and lawyers can turn to this text for help with assessing the validity and usefulness of scientific claims. The book provides practical guidance and makes important recommendations for reforms in science policy and science administration. The message of the book is complemented by Nobel Laureate Vernon L. Smith's foreword, and an afterword by Terence Kealey.
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  1. ISBN-10
    1009096427
  2. ISBN-13
    978-1009096423
  3. Publisher
    Cambridge University Press
  4. Publication date
    July 14, 2022
  5. Language
    English
  6. Dimensions
    6 x 0.5 x 8.75 inches
  7. Print length
    200 pages
  8. See all details
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From the Publisher

Smith Quote
Rousseau Quote
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Editorial Reviews

Review

'How does scientific practice differ from scientific method? What does it take to become a good scientist? How to write an excellent paper? In times where science must confront rumors and fake news and struggles with inept practices, this clearly written book is a timely and valuable resource. The authors provide how-to checklists, starting with an oath every scientist and journalist should take: to have read all the work they cite. I highly recommended this book to everyone who loves science.' Gerd Gigerenzer, Director of the Harding Center for Risk Literacy, Max Planck Institute for Human Development

'From time to time, admirable human institutions lose their way and need reformation. As this important book makes clear, much contemporary science badly needs reformation. Scientists have been distracted from the honest, self-critical search for truth by careerism, ideology, and other lamentable forces. Too often ‘science’ has become well-funded propaganda for a political narrative. The book outlines what science should be, what problems contemporary science is facing, and how to fix them.' William Happer, Cyrus Fogg Bracket Professor of Physics, Emeritus, Princeton University

'This compact book challenges the status quo regarding what gets produced and published in the realm of science. The authors make clear why much research contributes nothing to scientific knowledge and how this situation can be changed by requiring checklists that focus the attention of stakeholders - journal editors, funding agencies, lawyers, regulators, the media, and scientists themselves - on the essential attributes of science, especially the consideration of alternative hypotheses. A compelling manifesto for how to make investment in science produce valid and useful results.' Geoffrey Kabat, Epidemiologist and author of Hyping Health Risks

'Contemporary science falls well short of its ideals for trustworthiness and usefulness. This book tells the truth, spotlighting shortcomings and corruption in scientific practice, and provides step-by-step guidance for baking integrity and value into our research and publication practices.' Denise M. Rousseau, H.J. Heinz II University Professor of Organizational Behavior and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University

Book Description

A guide to identifying and practicing useful scientific research for researchers, administrators, policy makers, lawyers, and journalists.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cambridge University Press (July 14, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 200 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1009096427
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1009096423
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.7 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.5 x 8.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.7 3.7 out of 5 stars 10 ratings

About the author

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Kesten C. Green

Kesten C. Green

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Customer reviews

3.7 out of 5 stars
3.7 out of 5
10 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

J. A May
5.0 out of 5 stars A very important overview of scientific research
Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2022
Verified Purchase
Perhaps it is because I was a scientist for 42 years, but I find the level of scientific education very poor these days. People say they "believe in science," even though such a statement is clearly an oxymoron. As the book makes clear, science done properly, is a method of discerning objective and reproducible truth. A scientific paper and study, properly documented, must be reproducible by others.

Scientific opinions are not science, one does not believe in science or scientists, the job of scientists is to lay out their research and results in such a clear and precise way as to make them objectively correct, there is no need to "believe" in anything. It should be clear, anything else is not scientific, it is opinion.

Chapter 7 is essential reading. It is clear that government funding of research has corrupted science, by selectively funding scientists that consistently produce the results that the political funders want. Further, by emphasizing government funding above all else both the quality of university education, and the public benefits of government research have been reduced. Universities should teach, not be money-generating machines.

Peer-reviews are dominated by the opinions of the reviewers and the editors of scientific journals and, of late, have censored, rather than review. The book offers other ways to publish significant work, rather than in peer-reviewed journals. It is unfortunate, but peer-reviewed journals are a failed experiment. The 19th century custom of self-publishing scientific results is better. Much more in the book, worth reading.
5 people found this helpful
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S. Young
5.0 out of 5 stars A scientist rates the book excellent
Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2022
Several years ago, I read a pre-print of The Scientific Method by Armstrong and Green. I made extensive comments at the time and sent them to the authors. I assume other scientists read and made comments on the book. Recently, I purchased an e-version of the book and read the book again, noting many additions and improvements to the book.
Advanced-level science training is very much like a medieval guild where the work can be very narrowly focused; as training advances, the big picture is usually well out of view. It is well-established that many scientific claims fail to replicate. About two-thirds of experimental psychology claims failed to replicate. Close to 90% of experimental biology claims failed to replicate. I examined 52 epidemiology claims and none of them replicated in randomized trials, 0/52. There is a problem. Armstrong and Green provide useful guidance on how to start turning the situation around. Their guidance comes complete with multiple checklists. I will add that my son is a commercial pilot with 30 years of experience flying all manner of planes. He uses checklists, as do all pilots. If science is to advance beyond guilds, expert opinion, and advocacy, then checklists and the reasoning for them are a good start.
Scientists, editors, and funding agencies should pay heed to this book. Citizens, who pay for much science, are forewarned that the science claim that appears with media cheerleading more than likely will not replicate.
Armstrong and Green are to be congratulated for their careful work and hopefully the start of turning the current often dismal situation around.
S. Stanley Young, Ph.D., FASA, FAAAS
4 people found this helpful
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RealityCheck
1.0 out of 5 stars Yikes! Do not buy this book.
Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2022
Verified Purchase
Their premise (use checklists) is sound, but ohhh their poorly-reasoned arguments and dog-whistle language.

Armstrong and Green, still at it, grinding their dull Heartland axe using advocacy "science":
* governments funded/regulated research = bad
* private corporation funded/self-regulated research = good
* the superiority of "necessary genes" to "demographic diversity" among scientists
* etc...

I am embarrassed that Cambridge University Press published this nonscience nonsense.

Google: "Heartland Institute"
7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Javier Vinós
5.0 out of 5 stars I wish this book was available at the start of my scientific career
Reviewed in Spain on October 9, 2022
Verified Purchase
Every scientist is convinced of his rationality, expertise, objectivity, and insight. However, studies demonstrate the general practice of science leaves much to be desired and, while being a general problem, in some fields it has resulted in a crisis of reproducibility.
As a scientist, I've been interested in the scientific method all my life, but I had to learn it the hard way, over many years of experimental practice from just a general understanding. I would have found a book like Armstrong and Green's "The Scientific Method" invaluable.

The book is divided into three parts. Chapters 2, 3, and 8 deal with the scientific method and what constitutes a good scientist. Chapters 4 to 7 identify some serious problems with the practice of science today. And chapters 9 to 11 propose ways of improving scientific practice.

The authors underscore the importance of objectivity for scientific progress. They also detail in chapter 5 the problem of advocacy, which has become acute with the utilization of science as a political tool. This is related to their defense of the scientific method versus scientists' opinions. Opinions by scientists do not constitute science despite the general belief that a scientific consensus is the best representation of scientific truth. Another interesting point in these times of extremely complex models guiding policies is the identification of complexity as a source of error.

This book is a nice, accessible addition to the philosophy of science following the steps of Karl Popper. The book's practical focus makes it more useful for science practitioners and those interested in the role of scientists in our society. If scientists are to have more voice (more power), it should come with more responsibility. Sadly, those that would benefit the most from this book are those that will not want to read it.
Customer image
Javier Vinós
5.0 out of 5 stars I wish this book was available at the start of my scientific career
Reviewed in Spain on October 9, 2022
Every scientist is convinced of his rationality, expertise, objectivity, and insight. However, studies demonstrate the general practice of science leaves much to be desired and, while being a general problem, in some fields it has resulted in a crisis of reproducibility.
As a scientist, I've been interested in the scientific method all my life, but I had to learn it the hard way, over many years of experimental practice from just a general understanding. I would have found a book like Armstrong and Green's "The Scientific Method" invaluable.

The book is divided into three parts. Chapters 2, 3, and 8 deal with the scientific method and what constitutes a good scientist. Chapters 4 to 7 identify some serious problems with the practice of science today. And chapters 9 to 11 propose ways of improving scientific practice.

The authors underscore the importance of objectivity for scientific progress. They also detail in chapter 5 the problem of advocacy, which has become acute with the utilization of science as a political tool. This is related to their defense of the scientific method versus scientists' opinions. Opinions by scientists do not constitute science despite the general belief that a scientific consensus is the best representation of scientific truth. Another interesting point in these times of extremely complex models guiding policies is the identification of complexity as a source of error.

This book is a nice, accessible addition to the philosophy of science following the steps of Karl Popper. The book's practical focus makes it more useful for science practitioners and those interested in the role of scientists in our society. If scientists are to have more voice (more power), it should come with more responsibility. Sadly, those that would benefit the most from this book are those that will not want to read it.
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Manorly
4.0 out of 5 stars Some remarkable insights into how the world of science has been undermined by governments.
Reviewed in Canada on April 15, 2023
Verified Purchase
The "read" can be heavy with detail from time to time, however the revelations of how science should function in contrast with how it does function (in order to be politically correct that attracts a stream of funding) is truly eye-opening.
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