Scientific Thinking vs. Common Sense | Socioemotional Summary

Objectives

1. 🎯 Identify and differentiate the characteristics of scientific thinking and common sense.

2. 🔍 Analyze practical examples to understand the application of scientific thinking in contrast with common sense.

Contextualization

Did you know that many of our everyday beliefs are based on common sense? This can include everything from drinking chamomile tea to relax to thinking that brown sugar is healthier than white sugar. But is that true? Scientific thinking gives us a powerful tool to verify these beliefs, using rigorous methods of investigation and empirical evidence. Let's explore these differences together! 🌟

Important Topics

Scientific Thinking

Scientific thinking is a systematic and methodical process of investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating pre-existing knowledge. It is based on empirical evidence and employs rigorous methods to test hypotheses. By adopting scientific thinking, we develop important analytical and critical skills, which help us make more informed and responsible decisions.

• 🔬 Rigorous Method: Scientific thinking follows a structured process of observation, experimentation, and validation to ensure the accuracy of discoveries.

• 📊 Empirical Evidence: It relies on concrete data and evidence, providing a more reliable understanding of the phenomena studied.

• 🔄 Verifiability: Scientific conclusions can be tested and replicated by other researchers, ensuring their consistency and validity.

Common Sense

Common sense is a set of beliefs or propositions that seem practical and logical to most people. It is based on everyday experiences and culture, without undergoing rigorous processes of scientific investigation. While common sense can be useful in daily life, it can lead to misleading conclusions as it is not grounded in robust evidence.

• 🗣️ Cultural Basis: Common sense is strongly influenced by cultural traditions and values, reflecting the collective experiences of a society.

• 👁️ Informal Observation: Common sense beliefs often rely on personal and anecdotal observations, without rigorous testing.

• 🚫 Lack of Verification: Common sense propositions are rarely subjected to experimentation or validation, which can result in inaccurate information.

Differences Between Scientific Thinking and Common Sense

Understanding the differences between scientific thinking and common sense is essential for developing critical thinking. While scientific thinking is based on rigorous methods and empirical evidence, common sense relies on everyday experiences and cultural beliefs. Recognizing these differences allows us to make more conscious and responsible choices in our personal and social lives.

• 🔍 Method vs. Experience: Scientific thinking follows rigorous methods, while common sense is based on everyday experiences.

• 📚 Evidence vs. Belief: Scientific thinking uses empirical data, while common sense uses beliefs and traditions.

• ✅ Verification vs. Uncertainty: Scientific conclusions are verifiable, while those of common sense are not tested.

Key Terms

• Scientific Thinking: Systematic investigation process based on empirical evidence.

• Common Sense: Set of beliefs and propositions based on everyday and cultural experiences.

• Empirical Evidence: Data and information obtained through observation and rigorous experimentation.

To Reflect

• 💡 How can the scientific method help us make more informed decisions in our daily lives?

• 🤔 In what situations have you realized you relied on common sense and later discovered the reality was different?

• 🌐 How can we cultivate a scientific mindset when dealing with information and beliefs in our society?

Important Conclusions

• 🧠 We learned to identify and differentiate the characteristics of scientific thinking and common sense.

• 🔍 We analyzed practical examples to better understand how to apply scientific thinking in contrast with common sense.

• 📚 Understanding these differences helps us develop critical thinking and make more informed and responsible decisions.

• 🌐 Recognizing these distinct approaches is essential for both our personal growth and our coexistence in society.

Impact on Society

Scientific thinking has a huge impact on modern society as it allows technological and scientific advancements that transform our lives daily. From medicine to engineering, the application of the scientific method results in innovations that improve our quality of life. The development of effective vaccines against diseases is a clear example of how scientific thinking can save millions of lives. On the other hand, common sense continues to influence our daily interactions and quick decisions, even if it is not always based on rigorous evidence. If we know how to balance the use of common sense with the scientific approach, we can make wiser and more appropriate decisions, whether in simple everyday matters or complex issues. This promotes a healthier coexistence environment and a more informed and collaborative society.

Dealing with Emotions

Let's do an exercise using the RULER method to deal with our emotions while studying the topic of the lesson and its applications. First, take a quiet moment. Close your eyes and reflect on a situation where you used common sense and later discovered the truth through science. Recognize how you felt when you found out the truth (surprised, relieved, frustrated). Understand the reason for that emotion: Why did this discovery make you feel that way? Name that emotion accurately, expressing it in words, such as 'I felt surprised to discover the scientific truth about the vaccine.' Finally, think about how you can regulate that emotion next time you encounter a similar situation, perhaps using mindfulness techniques or seeking more information before coming to conclusions.

Study Tips

• 📖 Read Scientific Articles: Dedicate time each week to read scientific articles or materials explaining the application of scientific thinking. This will help consolidate the concepts learned.

• 🗣️ Engage in Debates: Get involved in discussions and debates on topics that involve science and common sense. Defend your points based on evidence, this will strengthen your argumentative and critical skills.

• 💡 Try Mindfulness Techniques: Incorporate mindfulness practices into your study routine to improve your focus and self-control. This will help you better manage your emotions during learning.