Understanding scientific reasoning

by Ronald N. Giere

UNDERSTANDING SCIENTIFIC REASONING is a softcover book that 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.

Genres: Science, Philosophy, Nonfiction

384 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1984

Reviews

[Alexander Elbittar]

Better that the new version.

[Stephen Antczak]

This textbook on scientific reasoning has a lot of great information in it, but it is written like a textbook, so at times can get a bit dense. Still, a great introduction to the ideas and concepts that inform the activity of scientists (although, I would have preferred acknowledgment and perhaps even examples of how scientists don't actually operate in the normative manner presented in this book).

[Norman S]

Excellent for someone wanting a good refresher of logic and statistics, aimed at an achievable first year undergrad level. Clear writing with good flow makes it easy to forget you're being introduced to some complex mathematical concepts. Doesn't require any calculators, just a cup of tea or joe and a desire to learn.

[Jakob Nelson]

It's fine. VERY hard to read, would love it to be a little better organised- with more visual examples. it's sort of straddling the line between "informational non-fiction book" and "textbook" and that makes some of the later chapters a little tough to comprehend.

[Annasnova]

Enjoyed the first half of the book thanks to excellent examples from science and history.