What Is the Difference Between Hard and Soft Science

The Science Council gives this definition of science: Science is the pursuit and application of knowledge and understanding of the natural and social world following a systematic methodology based on evidence.   The council goes on to describe the scientific method as being comprised of the following components: Objective observationEvidenceExperimentInductionRepetitionCritical analysisVerification and testing In some cases, systematic observation using the scientific method is a relatively straightforward process that can be easily replicated by others. In other instances, objective observation and replication can be difficult, if not impossible. In general, those sciences that can easily make use of the scientific method as described above are termed hard sciences, while those for which such observations are difficult are termed soft sciences. The Hard Sciences Sciences that explore the workings of the natural world are usually called hard sciences, or natural sciences. They include: PhysicsChemistryBiologyAstronomyGeologyMeteorology Studies in these hard sciences involve experiments that are relatively easy to set up with controlled variables and in which it is easier to make objective measurements. Results of hard science experiments can be represented mathematically, and the same mathematical tools can be used consistently to measure and calculate outcomes. For example, X quantity of Y mineral can be tested with Z chemical, with a mathematically describable outcome. The same quantity of mineral can be tested over and over again with the same chemical with precisely the same results. There should be no variation in outcome unless the materials used to experiment have changed (for example, the mineral sample or the chemical are impure). The Soft Sciences In general, the soft sciences deal with intangibles and relate to the study of human and animal behaviors, interactions, thoughts, and feelings. Soft sciences apply the scientific method to such intangibles, but because of the nature of living beings, it is almost impossible to recreate a soft science experiment with exactitude. Some examples of the soft sciences, sometimes referred to as the social sciences, are: PsychologySociologyAnthropologyArchaeology (some aspects)   Particularly in sciences dealing with people, it may be difficult to isolate all the variables that can influence an outcome. In some cases, controlling the variable may even alter the results! Simply put, in soft science it is harder to devise an experiment. For example, lets say that a researcher hypothesizes that girls are more likely than boys to experience bullying. The research team selects a cohort of girls and boys in a particular class in a particular school and follows their experience. They find that the boys are more likely to be bullied. Then, the same experiment is repeated using the same number of children and the same methodologies in a different school, and they find the opposite outcome. The reasons for the differences are complicated to determine: They could relate to the teacher, the individual students, the socioeconomics of the school and surrounding community, and so forth.   Is Hard Hard and Soft Easy? The terms hard science and soft science are used less often than they used to be, in part because the terminology is misunderstood and misleading. People perceive hard to mean more difficult, whereas, in truth, it may be much more challenging to devise and interpret an experiment in a so-called soft science than in a hard science. The distinction between the two types of science is a matter of how rigorously a hypothesis can be stated, tested, and then accepted or rejected. As we have come to understand it today, the degree of difficulty is less related to the discipline than it is to the specific question at hand. So, one might say the terms hard science and soft science have become outdated.

Ethiopian School System - 1661 Words

In 2000, the United Nations introduced the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as part of the United Nations Millennium Declaration. The MDGs were established to attempt to improve overall well-being for as many people as possible, and targets issues such as poverty, starvation, and disease. This paper will focus on the development goal of achieving universal primary education, specifically focusing on the country of Ethiopia. Achieving universal primary education is important because it acts as a building block towards the development of counties as a whole. Primary education is not only a necessity, but a right to all individuals regardless of gender or class. Over the course of the last decade, Ethiopia has experienced vast improvements†¦show more content†¦This is due to a variety of reasons, the biggest due to the socioeconomic state of Ethiopia. According to a local Ethiopian advisor, the biggest reason most children discontinue school is that their parents simply cann ot afford to pay for their school supplies and transportation. In Ethiopia, children are seen as a resource by their parents, and often times the financial state of the family requires that the child helps work on their farm or provide money for the family by other means (ROOTS Ethiopia). Because the financial stability of the average Ethiopian family is so fragile, a variety of events such as a drought or death of a family member can necessitate a child dropping out of school and working to make up for losses. Ethiopian children commonly drop out of school because of the lack of quality within the school system. Many of the schools in Ethiopia are lacking in resources. There is an insufficient number of qualified teachers, a lack of learning materials such as books and blackboards, and in extreme cases, some schools do not have enough chairs or desks for every student to have a seat. The USAID performed a study on a small sample of Ethiopian schools. Out of their 46 classroom obser vations, all teachers and students were present only 24% of the time, some teachers and students were present 57% of the time, and no teachers were present 20% of the time (DeStefano and Elaheebocus). Due to aShow MoreRelatedThe Case Study Of Ethiopi What About Preservice Teacher Training?934 Words   |  4 PagesEthiopia agreed to implement free, compulsory, universal primary education by 2015. The abolition of school fees for primary schooling in Ethiopia was integrated into the Poverty Reduction Strategy Plan (PRSP) in 2002. This change was viewed as a positive development by various stakeholders, including parents, teachers, and government representatives. However, in Ethiopia, the effects of the abolition of school fees saw a minimal increase in enrolment rates. Thus, the goal of UPE in Ethiopia is especiallyRead MoreEthiopi The Country Of The World1542 Words   |  7 Pages Much of the coffee grown and produced in Ethiopia are considered to be â€Å"speciality coffee† which to consumers in places like North America and Europe means a higher price tag but better quality and taste. Coffee is seen as â€Å"the backbone of the Ethiopian economy, contributing 41 per cent of total foreign exchange earnings in 2005† (Petit, 2007), however, many of those earnings are not going back to the people who work within the coffee industry there. It is reported that the coffee industry in EthiopiaRead MoreBlack Gold : The World Coffee Market And An Ethiopian Fair Trade Cooperative1553 Words   |  7 Pagesworld coffee market and an Ethiopian fair trade cooperative. Ethiopia being the birthplace of coffee is the largest producer of coffee in the world, producing some of the highest quality of coffee beans in the world, like Harar, Yuban and Sidamo types of coffee. The significant problems pointed out in this documentary show what is wrong in the global trading system. Mainly, while most of us continue have our lattes and specialty coffees, the amount p aid to the Ethiopian coffee farmers is so lowRead MoreA Brief Note On The Ethiopian Church Of Egypt991 Words   |  4 Pagesdescendants in the diaspora back to Africa and and Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church is one of the five   monophysite churches, characterised by their rejection of the Council of Chalcedon 451 AD(Ethiopian) This council was convened in an effort to create uniformity in regards to doctrine amongst varying christian sects. One of the many decisions agreed upon was that God had  Ã‚  two distinct natures in Christ. Ethiopian orthodox christianity  vehemently  disagreed with theRead MoreUnderstanding And Applying The Heritage Assessment Tool1441 Words   |  6 Pagesmaintenance, health protection and health restoration. The author will review three different individuals culture heritage using the HAT. The cultures that are being compared for differences in health traditions are Asian Indians, Vietnamese and Ethiopian. The review of HAT results will give insight to compare the differences of health traditions between these different cultured families. Understanding and Applying the Heritage Assessment tool Nurses have to be culturally competent, they need to assessRead MoreMalnutrition Is An Epidemic Caused By Malnutrition1218 Words   |  5 Pagesinadequate agricultural methods affecting the health and daily lives of many Ethiopians. Due to the poor agriculture methods in this third world country, there can be deficient health in children and their mothers during and after the pregnancy. Organizations like UNICEF, World Bank, and Nutriset try to implement a plan to help Ethiopians become less dependent on other countries for food. To do this, a stable agricultural system is needed. Malnutrition became an issue in Ethiopia due to major droughtsRead MoreAfrican Voices : African American1551 Words   |  7 Pagesthrough. We need to bring humanity back to the name of the African Americans. The Reconquista was the main reason why these African Americans were captured and enslaved. The shrine retaking of the Iberian peninsula set the wave of transatlantic slave system. The Portuguese got rid of muslim dictators much sooner than the Spanish. While doing this the Portuguese acquired cannon to their vessels, and established plantation of the coats of western Africa. They then raided African communities for captivesRead MoreImproving Clean Water And Sanitation1651 Words   |  7 Pagesthroughout the country. Agriculture accounts for 93% of Ethiopia’s water withdraw (3). There is also the problem of education, being that most children do not attend school to help out their families by working and collecting water. Two-thirds of Ethiopia’s population is illiterate (1), and only 45% of children attend primary school (4). Affected Population: The poor and people in rural areas and the slums are the most affected population when taking water and sanitation into consideration. A studyRead MoreThe Italian Invasion of Ethiopia and Its Impact on Education3464 Words   |  14 Pagesâ€Å"turning point in the country’s millennium-old history†. In fact it could even be considered the dark ages of Ethiopian education as all existing attempts to modern education came to a complete standstill, in short it was a negative period in the history of Ethiopian education. Overall the educational policies that were instilled during this time had a considerable social impact on the Ethiopian population and in some ways are the foundations of the educational structure we have today. Ever sinceRead MoreHealth Education Systems in Finland, Norway, and Ethiopia1511 Words   |  7 Pages (WHO 2013.) The study of nursing is an education in a profession of health care. Nurses are responsible for giving quality health care for everyone. (Education.com.2013.) In this task I analyse and compare the structure of the health education systems in Finland, Norway and Ethiopia. The main questions are †¢ Who are responsible for planning the curriculum in health care education? †¢ What are the levels, main subjects, and dimensions of professional education? †¢ What is the meaning of national

The human body is a complex, h... free essay sample

The human body is a complex, highly organized structure made up of unique cells that work together to accomplish the specific functions necessary for sustaining life. Our bodies consist of a number of biological systems that are vital to our survival and well-being, each system require support and coordination of other systems to form a living and healthy human body. If any of these systems is damaged, the human body will become unstable and this lack of stability will ultimately lead to death. The instability caused by damage of one system cannot be stabilized by other systems because functions of one system cannot be performed by another. One main system is the Endocrine system which is vital in maintaining homeostasis in the human body. This system influences almost every cellular function in our body; this system plays a role in regulating mood, growth and development, tissue function, metabolism, and sexual function and reproductive processes. Throughout this essay I will be talking about an organ in the endocrine system called the Adrenal gland which main role is to relay chemical messages know as hormones throughout the body.The adrenal gland is one of the major organs in the endocrine system, the adrenal gland is a pair of triangular shaped glands each about 2 inches long and 1 inch wide that sits on top of the kidneys. Dont let their small size fool you; these powerful little adrenal glands manufacture and secrete steroid hormones such as cortisol, estrogen and testosterone that are essential for life, health and vitality. They modulate the functioning of every tissue, organ and gland in your body to maintain homeostasis during stress and keep you alive. They also have important effects on the way you think and feel. The main purpose of your adrenals is to enable your body to deal with stress from every possible source, ranging from injury and disease to work and relationship problems. They largely determine the energ y of your bodys responses to every change in your internal and external environment. Whether they signal attack, retreat or surrender, every cell responds accordingly, and you feel the results. It is through the actions of the adrenal hormones that your body is able to mobilize its resources to escape or fight off danger (stress) and survive. The adrenaline hormone prepares our body to function at maximum efficiency by increasing our heart beats, breathing rate, and blood flowing muscles and causes the liver to put more stored glucose into our blood. All of these actions cause our body to produce a lot of energy rapidly and the energy helps us cope with these different situations.The adrenal gland is made up of two major regions which is the adrenal cortex and the adrenal medulla. These two major regions are encapsulated by connective tissue known as the capsule. The adrenal cortex is the largest gland and is essential to life, it controls the electrolyte and water distribution in the body and maintains proper carbohydrate balance. Its composed of three concentric zones, the zona glomerulosa (outer zone) which secretes mineralocorticoids; it affects mineral levels of sodium and potassium in the blood. The zona fasciculata (middle zone) which secretes glucocorticoids, it suppresses the immune system, and aids in metabolism which helps us generate energy from non-carbohydrate foods and even regulate our blood pressure. Lastly the zona reticularis (inner zone) which secretes dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and androstenedione from cholesterol. These androgens are released into the bloodstream and transported to gonads where they are converted into testosterone or oestrogen. The hormones thats being released in this zone is mainly responsible for the development of sexual characteristics during puberty. The Adrenal medulla is the inner part of the gland and does not perform any vital functions, but just because it doesnt perform functions that you need to live doesnt mean its useless. Its composed of cells called ch romaffin cells, which are organized in clusters around blood vessels. The hormones that are produced in this part of the gland is epinephrine and norepinephrine which prepare the body to fight or flight response by increasing your heart rate, constricting blood vessels, increasing the metabolic rate heightening cognitive awareness and increasing the respiratory rate. Its very important for your body to produce these specific hormones because it can result in certain disorders. A disease that is caused from the failure of the adrenal glands is called Addisons disease, which is a rare uncommon condition in which your adrenal glands produces insufficient levels of cortisol and aldosterone. There are two major classifications for Addisons disease which is primary adrenal insufficiency and secondary adrenal insufficiency. Primary adrenal insufficiency which occurs when your adrenal glands are damaged so severely that they can no longer produce hormones. Its most often caused when your immune system attacks the adrenal glands known as autoimmune disease. I n an autoimmune disease, your bodys immune system mistakes any organ or area of the body for a virus, bacteria, or another outside invader. Secondary adrenal insufficiency which occurs when the pituitary gland located in your brain cant produce adrenocorticotropic hormone which tells the adrenal gland when to release hormones.The endocrine system is unique because its organs are not anatomically related. Hormones are produced in a wide variety of locations and can have wide reaching effects throughout the entire body.

Fascism Nazi Germany and Swing Kids free essay sample

Swing Kids is a movie that reflects fascism and Nazism, following the lives of two students. Taken place in Hamburg, the two students are part of the Hitler youth by day, and swing kids by night. The Hitler youth was an organization of young teenage boys who served and helped the Nazis control the country, while the swing kids were a group of German swing lovers. The Hitler youth is an example of fascism because the governments usually rule their country by using a strong military or police force. Members of the Hitler youth are trained to carry out the law with all their power, showing cruelty and using force.Although this is a group of young teenagers, they are used as an effective police force. A key aspect of fascism is propaganda, which is especially used in Nazism. Propaganda is the influence of opinion in public matters through the use of mass media. We will write a custom essay sample on Fascism: Nazi Germany and Swing Kids or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In the move Swing Kids, we see that propaganda is used to make the German army more appealing. Over a large radio broadcast, an announcer is heard saying that the German army has successfully invaded Czechoslovakia, and that the citizens of Czechoslovakia were cheering on the German army. However, this was not the truth.Not a lot of the Czechoslovakians were actually German, so they didn’t want to live under German rules and laws. In this case, the government twisted the truth to make it seem like the Germans were saving the people of Czechoslovakia. The encouragement of nationalism is also present in the movie Swing Kids. Throughout the film, the phrase â€Å"Heil Hitler† is used by many characters in numerous occasions. This is to show their extreme patriotism towards the country’s leader. It reflects the attitude they have towards the Fuhrer, loyalty and respect. It is also used as a scare tactic to everyone else that doesn’t support Hitler.This would impose fear in the citizens and remind them that Hitler is rising in power. In the movie Berlin 36, it retells the story of Gretel Bergmann, a widely known Jewish high jumper. One example of Nazism in this movie is anti-Semitism, shown by the German government. By eliminating the competition from participating in the Olympics, the government was able to show the world that the Aryan race is superior to any other race. In the movie, Gretel is slowly replaced by another German to compete in the event because the government couldn’t risk the humiliation if a Jew beat a German.To do this, the government took control of society. This is another key example of fascism. The Nazis used their power and influence to guarantee that a Jewish athlete will not compete in the competition against Germans. To keep it subtle, they invited Gretel to train in Germany, but despite her efforts, she was denied the participation in the competition. On the other hand, her teammates were told that the reason she could not participate was because of an injury. The actions of the government in this movie show how much control they can simply have over Germany. In the two movies Swing Kids and Berlin 36, clear signs of fascism and Nazism are portrayed, which easily influences the lives of German citizens. It shows the use of propaganda, nationalism, racism against different races, the government having control over society, and the use of teenagers as a police force to control the citizens. Also shown, fascism and Nazism successfully helped Hitler in controlling Germany. The two movies also portrays the lives that Germans might have gone through while under the reign of the Nazi regime.