Recent debates about science in our society have focused largely on whether or not scientific research is important to understanding and improving human life. Some argue that too much of today’s “scientific knowledge” has little value beyond satisfying intellectual curiosity, while others contend that many so-called studies are simply expensive marketing strategies designed to promote new products.
Many people also criticize academic researchers for conducting overly complex experiments that take lots of time and energy to complete, which may benefit the sponsors more than anyone else.
These criticisms seem reasonable, but they lack one crucial element: truth!
We cannot know if an experimental design is well thought out and rigorous until we have conducted the experiment and analyzed the data. Similarly, we can’t determine the importance of any given piece of scientific research until we evaluate it.
In this article you will learn how to do just that by following the steps described here. But first, let us look at some examples of scientific studies that most people agree are very important.
Examples of important studies
Here are five examples of scientific studies that most experts consider significant contributions to our current state of knowledge.
#1 Penicillin was able to cure what were then called bacterial infections – before antibiotics were available. This means that penicillin helped prevent death due to infection caused by bacteria.
Reasons why scientific research is important
Doing science, reading literature, and engaging in discourse about topics that influence people’s perceptions of the world are all fundamental to understanding how our society works.
Science has played an increasingly significant role in shaping who rules over large swaths of our lives- from deciding what foods are safe for us to determine where we should send our waste, to informing whether or not it is ethical to perform certain medical procedures.
It also helps us understand why things happen, which can be just as important when assessing individuals or groups.
For example, during the Cold War era, many Americans perceived communism as an inherently evil ideology that would inevitably lead to dictatorship and oppression.
Today, this perception still exists in some parts of the country, even though the opposite has been proven time and again.
Similarly, some people believe capitalism is bad because it creates unequal societies that depend heavily on wealthy individuals and corporations for survival.
However, studies have shown that more capitalist economies tend to produce higher overall prosperity than socialist ones, making the case against socialism weaker every year.
Ways that science can improve our lives
Recent studies show that there are many ways scientific research has improved your life, or at least made you feel better about yourself. These include improving your health through nutrition, exercise, and sleep; enhancing your overall well-being and quality of life; and even helping with mental health issues, like depression and anxiety.
Some of these applications are now being incorporated into practice, so they’re becoming more widely available. For example, someone might be able to take an antidepressant medication instead of seeking counseling or talking therapy. Nutritionists and fitness professionals have found new uses for some foods and exercises in their regimes, and they use this information every day.
There are also several promising applications of medical technology, such as implantable devices or ingestible treatments, that benefit people directly. Some examples include skin care products containing retinol (vitamin A) or vitamin D supplements, oral antibiotics to treat bacterial infections, and fecal transplants to restore normal gut function and balance.
Ways that science affects our lives
Recent developments in medicine, technology, and research have given us countless ways to improve our health and life expectancy. Technology has made it possible to diagnose and treat disease at a never before seen level!
We’ve got medicines and therapies for everything from diabetes to cancer to HIV/AIDS to hypertension to mental illness. We are living longer than ever before due to advances in preventative healthcare such as screening tests and early detection of diseases.
Screening is important because some things can be reversed or even cured if detected early. For example, people who are over 40 years old should get screened for colon cancer since you can sometimes detect it by testing stool samples or blood levels.
Another way we’re able to help keep ourselves healthy is through nutrition. A well-balanced diet full of fruits and vegetables helps promote overall wellness and keeps your heart strong. Nutrition also plays an essential part in keeping bone density high and preventing certain types of cancer.
There are many other examples of how scientific research changes what we know about health and live lengthening. This article will talk more about why this is important to do and how you can begin reading up on studies.
Ways that science helps us
One of the things that scientific research can do for you is help you understand how your body works. A large part of this comes from understanding basic biology. When doing so, you learn not only why some foods or supplements work for you, but also what doesn’t!
Biologists are trained in studying disease patterns and mechanisms, which allows them to identify risk factors for diseases and evaluate potential treatments. This applies particularly well to mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.
Research shows that exercise is an effective treatment for most types of depression and stress-related disorders. By learning about the effects of exercise on our bodies, we are more aware of how to use it as a tool to improve our overall state of mind and physical wellness.
Using evidence, we can determine if vitamin supplementation is needed or not. Certain vitamins play important roles in brain function and have been linked to improving symptoms in people with psychiatric diagnoses.
Ways that science is harmful
We as humans have a tendency to over-consume scientific knowledge. This is very dangerous when it comes to understanding what is happening around us and how to better ourselves through education and practice of health routines.
Many of these practices come with expensive supplements or expensive surgeries, both of which are unnecessary unless you need them. Health professionals sometimes even recommend treatments that haven’t been thoroughly studied for safety and effectiveness.
It is important to remember that most studies that go up in popularity were conducted by companies who stand to profit from the results of their research. These firms also tend to only publish positive findings – the “successful” experiments they conduct.
Something like 80% of clinical trials fail to show any significant benefits from treatments. Because of this, we lose confidence in the efficacy of many interventions that seem to work for some people. It can be hard to determine if the success your neighbor had on a new diet is due to the diet or the placebo effect!
Some placebos are plain water, while others may involve counseling individuals about healthy habits and giving them hope for improved wellness. A lot of times, doctors will urge patients to try a treatment because it seems logical — but then get compensated for suggesting it. All too often, medical professionals don’t put consumers first, and instead focus more on generating revenue.
We must realize that not all studies are equal when it comes to accuracy and reliability.
Popular topics in scientific research
Another area of popularized science is studies that seem to prove whether or not something will boost your health or improve the quality of your life. Most of these studies are heavily influenced by marketing teams with an incentive to show how their product can help you feel better or increase your income.
There’s also the fact that most people don’t have much money for expensive supplements, so they go along with what someone else suggests instead of investing in their own personal care regime.
However, before making any major changes to how you take care of yourself, try just doing without the things you already use. For example, if you usually drink coffee, then try drinking water only once a day. Or if you normally eat bread, then do without it for a week.
Who benefits from scientific research
Recent developments in science and technology play an important role in shaping our lives, making them more productive and efficient. Computers, for example, have transformed how we work, live, and communicate.
Computers are now found in almost every area of life, including education, medicine, finance, logistics, communication, media production, and research. They help us track everything from emails to financial documents to health records.
Scientists perform many different studies that aid in developing new technologies. These studies include testing chemicals, medicines, or devices for effectiveness and risk. They also look at why some treatments work better than others for certain conditions.
New medical techniques are often inspired by discoveries in basic sciences — the study of individual parts of the body and their functions. For instance, understanding how blood moves and what affects it helps doctors develop ways to treat cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis and heart failure.
Who should conduct scientific research
As we have seen, doing scientific research is not something that everyone can do, nor does it require a large amount of resources. Even if you are very talented, there are still ways to contribute to scientific research by practicing your hand-eye coordination or mathematics skills.
There are many ways to conduct scientific research including through academic institutions, private companies, non-profit organizations, and even yourself! If you already have an area of expertise, then starting your own research project within those parameters is a great way to contribute while also learning more about your field.
For example, someone with knowledge in biology could look into how human cells work and start experimenting with different substances to see what effects they have. Or, someone who is passionate about science may choose to study why some materials dissolve in water as compared to others.
