DT&SC 7-1: Introduction to e-Science

Part of the University of California course:
"Digital Technology & Social Change"

Official course at:

[HikmetYolcusu]

Thanks Martin for an introductory information about Scientific Method. However, you have a misconception I think. Computer simulations are not theories, they are essentially empirical methods. Big Data and computer simulation are parts of empirical analysis in the sense that data is the material (Finch birds for Darwin) and simulations are the tools used to come up with a theory, but not the theory itself. Just as statistical packages used in forecasting in statistical analysis are not theories. Essentially theories are intangible, 'intuitive', so can be hard to understand for a 'sensing' person that most of computer scientists are (see Jungian Character Types). All in all we have enough conceptional confusions already, and should not add new ones. Thanks anyway for the lecture.