Scientific Method

Scientific method what comes to mind? Do we start thinking of some type of formal process that will answer all our scientific questions or problems? When I was in school many years ago, we were taught that scientists go through a series of steps to find a solution to a problem or find evidence to support or disprove a theory. It all seemed rather cold, and formal. Going back to school, school has taught me that science has undergone significant changes and has moved away from the rigidity of a fixed series of steps in what was formerly called the scientific method.

I think the best way to describe what helps me understand scientific method, is trying to shed some light on the uncertainties through step by step procedures, collecting and analyzing data. Both start with observations of the world around us. During those observations and some inconsistency, confusion, a question may arise. This will probably lead to more observing, reading or talking to others, or perhaps consulting an expert. We then might clarify the problem and intuit a hypothesis, than decide to gather some more data to shed some light on that hypothesis. Will this new data lead to more questions or more information gathering? So after we organize and analyze all our data and check it with what others and what they know. We may then talk it through with our buddies or maybe go back and collect more data, and the process continues.

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In my research for the scientific methods of adult learners in our nation, I found the latest review on Adult learning and literacy was performed in June of 2003 by the NRS, all the numbers and data have not been publish yet. So I found this article that was written by the National (NCSALL) in 1999 on their review of adult education. The previous reports were conducted in 1988, 1982 and 1971. What I have found is that a lot of research on adult learner has been done only performed recently.

If we go back to the first half of the twenty first century, organization theory was dominated by classicists who viewed organizations as rational systems and valued efficient operations above all. They promoted the idea that management is a process of planning, organization, command, coordination n, and control and that design of an organization should be like that of a machine. This concept spawned the modern bureaucracy. (Morgan, 1997a)

Morgan's points out those organizations could be considered cold and dehumanizing, so we are suppose to think of organizations as machines? As we interact everyday with many organizations that are bureaucracies such the schools we attend, the bank we keep our money. Bureaucracies have been a very successful because they work and they are efficient. They have been consistence and persisted because this gives the manager control over the people. This concept was ingrained in managers. This theory was scientificly management was developed by Fredrick Taylor during the early 1900s.His studies that were conducted that human beings could be measured in the same way that the output of a machine can be measured. (Wiesboard, 1987) Taylor has had a big impact on organization theory. His scientific work laid down the framework and design throughout the century.

In 1960 Douglas McGregor wrote a book presenting a positive view of human side of things. McGregor attributed himself as a part of adult learning. With his Theory Y assumes that (1) physical and mental effort is as natural as play, (2) the individual will exercise self-direction and self-control in the service of objectives (3) the individual, under the right conditions, will learn not only to accept responsibility but to seek it and (4) the capacity for imagination, ingenuity, and creativity in problem solving is widely distributed in the population (Hohn, 1998a)

McGregor was influenced by the psychologist Abraham Maslow who promoted the idea of "learning by doing" as key to helping people find meaning in work. (1951).Ackoff (1981) explains his approach by taking things apart and studying the behavior. Assuming that each part works effectively as possible, the scientific method seems irrelevant and the thinking will focus on the straight line cause and effect.

Paradigms, Mind-sets and Organizational change

The Total Quality Management (TQM) which was developed and initiated by the ABE in Tennessee in 1997 by the Knox County Adult Literacy program. The TQM theory was the way of thinking by