5. It reveals that the length of our heels,
or the distance between our ankle
joint and the back of the Achilles
tendon, seems to have an impact on
the development of the size of our
calf muscles
9. en·gi·neer·ing (enjəˈni(ə)riNG) noun.
The branch of science and technology
concerned with the design, building, and use
of engines, machines, and structures
32. In medicine is
consider important
that people teaching
and make policy
decisions are still
practicing regularly
33. What can you do?
Use experiments/Be aware of bias:
• View testing as an experiment
• Gather data and use as decision
making aid
• Encourage your organisition to use
randomized controlled trails
34. What can you do?
Encourage closer relations with acadeamia:
• Stay in touch with your lecturers
• Read journals
• Join university mentor schemes
• Join professional organizations
35. What can you do?
Next time someone tells you something,
ask where the evidence is!
Currently little use of experiments and the scientific method in the software industryThe aim of this talk is:Explain what scientific method isShow that it is needed in software developmentExplain how other industries use scientific method
Science and Engineer are not completely separate entities, they cannot exist without each otherAll scientist need engineering to some extent as it is necessary for good experiment design
- From Guardian Weekly Science Podcast 06 Feb 2012: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/audio/2012/feb/06/medical-research-anthropology
The software industry tends to believe theories can be validated by reasoning aloneHalf of all business fail why should software methodologies do any better?
- Based on experiment used by Susan Blackmore, see page P138 the Geek Manifesto by Mark Henderson
Definition was taken from WikipediaUsed extensively by Ad men, not least in pricing things 4.99 € rather than 5.00 €See p11-24 of Irrationality by Stuart Sutherland
Definition was taken from WikipediaPeople have a tendency to look for data that fits existing theories rather than look for counter examplesSee P98-103, 109 Irrationality by Stuart Sutherland
Red placebos are more effective than blue onesTwo placebos a day is more effective than onePlacebo saline injection is more effective than placebo pillsPeople change their behavior when they are observedSource: Bad Science by Ben Goldarce
P175 Irrationality by Stuart Sutherland
Studies include thing being tested and a control groupGroups allocated randomlyIncludes blinding where possibleSeek to minimize bias though safe guardsP128-132 The Geek Manifesto by Mark Henderson
- We have come to expect self-interest/bias as the norm!
Wisdom teeth have a habit of growing at funny angles, “impacted” in the jargonUp to the mid-1990s impacted teeth were extracted routinely, even if there was no pain or other symptomsJohnathan Shepard began a review to see if this policy was correct, he found no evidence that removing teeth where patients were not in pain had any benefitAs a result the policy was changed and the number of wisdom teeth removal were vastly reducedKey to this policy change was the fact that Johnathan Shepard practiced dentistry as well as teaching and researching the subjectSee p135 The Geek Manifesto by Mark Henderson