HSCI 130 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Lyme Disease, Sick Role, Medicalization

• School: Simon Fraser University
• Department: Health Sciences
• Course: HSCI 130
• Professor: Rochelle Tucker

Document Summary

Data (plural of datum): observations that are measured or measurable. Theory: set of concepts and statements that link ideas and aim to explain things. Theories can be tested and are a framework for looking at phenomena. Theories have hypotheses and are open to falsification: universal method of judging results. Accurate theories have rules which yield specific results and can be replicated. Theory: set of concepts that explains/describes a phenomenon; can be objectively tested. Systemized body of knowledge about a phenomenon through observation, experimentation, explanation and prediction. Uniqueness: science is a collective activity that leads to progress. Assumptions: we live in a shared bio-physical-social world (shared reality), thus we can investigate the world, and is independent of any individual (collective) Science is influenced by culture, nature, and government to a great extent. Government decides what to fund, and the public as well as investors puts pressure for their interests. Scientists influence science with their curiosity and various questions.