Tale of Research: A Novice Exploring the World of Scientific Research

Hassan Saneii Seyed

Description

Have you ever wondered how we can trust the knowledge and science that we read in books or online? How can we get to know something for ourselves besides what others say in their scientific writings? Do you know how to do a scientific research to obtain knowledge for yourself?Familiarising students with the basics of research methods can have a great role in their learning. They will learn that they can find answers to many problems of everyday life with research. The young generations should not easily ignore their observations because observation is the basis of getting information, and information is the basis of rational decision-making. They must understand that 'absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence'.This story seeks to explain scientific research to young adults with the style of theatrical plays. It explains the basis of scientific research methods and how to do a research in a very simple and clear language. It is about a family with an educated mother. She tries to help her children in discovering the world of research and guides them in their path to become capable to acquire original knowledge for themselves. It is a new way of addressing science with art and literature. We hope you enjoy reading it while discovering the world of research!

Informations

• Publié par: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Date de parution: 10 décembre 2020
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781528994507
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

A Tale of Research: A Novice Exploring the World of Scientific Research
Seyed Hassan Saneii and Muhammed Hussein Mousavinasab
Austin Macauley Publishers
2020-12-10
A Tale of Research: A Novice Exploring the World of Scientific Research Preface Act 1 Act 2 Act 3 Act 4 Act 5 Act 6 Act 7 Act 8 Act 9 Act 10 Act 11 Act 12 Act 13 Act 14 Act 15
Seyed Hassan Saneii
He was born in 1957. He has a Ph.D. in medical statistics from University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom. He enjoys teaching statistics and research methods to the young generation. Hence, he has been the writer and translator of more than 20 books about these subjects in Persian (Farsi). He is currently an academic member of Iran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran. He enjoys reading scientific books, simplifying research methods for all and watching scientific TV programmes.
Muhammed Hussein Mousavinasab
He is a professional of intercultural communication and a skilled scientific researcher. He has work experience in both scientific and artistic domains. With more than 8 years of experience in the media industry and 14 years of experience as an author, translator and editor, he seeks to make knowledge easier to understand for the public and professionals. He enjoys reading and writing all sorts of books. He is fond of television, cinema and theatre, listening to music and playing sports. Right now, he is a Ph.D. candidate of translatology (translation studies) at Université Sorbonne Nouvelle in Paris.
To my wife, Nayerossadat Saneii, for her love and support in the past 35 years.
– SHS
To my father and mother who did everything so that I would become who I am now.
– MHM
Copyright © Seyed Hassan Saneii and Muhammed Hussein Mousavinasab (2020)
The right of Seyed Hassan Saneii and Muhammed Hussein Mousavinasab to be identified as authors of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.
Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.
ISBN 9781528994491 (Paperback)
ISBN 9781528994507 (ePub e-book)
www.austinmacauley.com
First Published (2020)
Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd
25 Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London
E14 5LQ
I thank my son, Seyed Mostafa Saneii, for helping me in choosing some of the tales of wisdom and examples in this work so that it would be understandable for the young adults.
– SHS
I would like to thank my brother and sister for being supportive all these years. I’m proud of both of you. Also, I thank all the researchers that entrusted me with writing and editing their research reports in the past 14 years. I learnt a lot from you and your work. In addition, I would like to thank my professors at Film Acting Studio of Tehran, who taught me a lot about the world of dramatic arts. Last but not the least, I thank my mentor, colleague and friend, Seyed Hassan Saneii, for trusting me in the past 13 years and having the chance to work with him on this tale of research.
– MHM
Preface
This story seeks to explain the basics of scientific research to the young adults with the style of theatrical plays. It explains the basis of research methods or how to do a research in a very simple and clear language. It is about a family with an educated mother. She tries to help her children in discovering the world of research and guides them in their path to become capable of acquiring original knowledge for themselves.
The main characters are:
Narrator: A middle-aged man who narrates the story from time to time
Mom: a 38-year-old bright and clever woman of Persian origin
Sara: a 14-year-old young girl who enjoys reading and tries to act like adults
Sourena: a 12-year-old boy who wants to be a genius
We hope you enjoy reading it and get to know about the world of research.
Act 1
Narrator: Imagine a day when you had returned from school to home thirsty and hungry. You were expecting an evening meal when your mom asks you to taste that day’s meal. She tells you that she’s a little sick and can’t taste the meal properly.
Maybe you had heard or experienced that a person who catches a cold can’t smell the food. But that day you hear from your mother that she can’t taste the food either! Now, this was the case for a brother and sister of our story who had just arrived from school. Really what has a sick nose got to do with the mouth? There goes another argument between Sourena and Sara…
Sara: Well Sourena, when we catch a cold, all our body parts are infected and can’t work properly. You know a great Persian poet once said: “Human beings are members of a whole, in creation of one essence and soul.” That’s the case of our body parts too.
Sourena: Not everyone! I know that all body parts are related, but a simple cold can’t infect them all. I think mom just wants to make sure we like the taste of the stew.
Mom: Maybe this isn’t a good time for a dispute, kids. As long as I remember, whenever someone caught a cold in our family, someone else tasted the meals. It’s just the way it is. Now come and taste today’s stew. See if the spices and salt are enough. You’ll get hungry soon.
(Sara comes forth and mom gives a spoonful of that day’s stew to her. After a few seconds of tasting the meal bit by bit, Sara seems satisfied.)
Sara: I would need to taste a few more spoons if I’m supposed to understand the taste properly.
Mom: I think you already had enough, dear. Now tell me, how was it?
Sara: I think it’s a bit salty.
Mom: Now, it’s your turn Sourena. Come and have a taste.
(Sourena goes towards his mother and starts tasting a spoonful of that day’s meal.)
Sourena: I think Sara was right. We should both have more to make a good judgment of its taste.
Mom: There, there, now that would be enough. Just tell me what you think.
Sourena: I think it’s a bit salty as she said, we should add some water to it.
(The mother tells them to go and change their clothes to get ready for lunch. While they are going to their rooms, they continue their argument.)
Sara: You know…some people are like this. When they catch a cold, they can’t taste the food. Do you think most people are like this?
Sourena: I’ve never heard of such a thing! So, maybe only some people are like this.
Sara: Hmm…that can’t be a good reason. If you haven’t heard about something, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t common. There are a lot of things we haven’t seen and heard about. There are a lot of books we haven’t read. Besides, we haven’t asked about it from many people. If we don’t know something, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist. You know, if we see no reason for something, it doesn’t mean that it has no reason. As I read once in some book: “Absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence”. (she makes a small pause) I think most people are like mom.
Sourena: Wow! Now you’re beginning to sound strange… I don’t get you. Can you speak English and tell me what you mean by “if we see no reason for something, it doesn’t mean that it has no reason?”
Sara: Well, it means that if we haven’t found something, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist! Do you remember the other day when dad asked me to bring him the screwdriver and plier from the car’s toolbox? I was a little out of mood that day. So, I searched the toolbox a little and found the plier, but not the screwdriver. I told dad that there’s no screwdriver in the box. Then he came and told me to look again, but more carefully. I looked again and told him that I see no screwdriver. So, he called you out and told you to search. You went through the toolbox with more precision and found it. Then dad told me,
“Never say something doesn’t exist when you haven’t found it. Always say I haven’t found it!”
Do you get it now?
Sourena: (with a short pause) Somehow, but it just isn’t clear enough. I think when I don’t find a reason for something, maybe there’s no reason for it. If there was one, I would’ve found it. It’s that simple!
Sara: So let me give you another example. You know our neighbour Narges? They’re faithful Muslims. Once she told me that Muslims only eat fishes that have scales. So for a long time, they didn’t eat a fish called caviar because they couldn’t see its scales. After some time, scientists found out that caviars have scales too. But their scales are too little to be seen. After that Muslims started eating caviar too. I mean, the fact that Muslims didn’t see the scales of caviar for a long time didn’t mean that it had none.
Sourena: Okay, I get it somehow. Now what difference does it make if most people can’t taste the food when they’re sick or if only some people have this problem? Who cares? What’s in it for us?
Sara: Well, the difference is that if most people are like this, it shows that it’s an important subject. So, it can be of use knowing about it, because sooner or later we ourselves might be influenced by it. I personally think that most people are like mom. I know you don’t agree, but we can test it.
(They both go to their rooms.)
Narrator: Now that was a good subject to think about! I wonder…while these two curious kids are getting ready for dinner, why don’t I tell you a short story…
(as the narrator is telling the short story, related images are shown on a screen)
Once upon a time, there was