From the case study below, where did critical thinking fail? How could the scien

Question

From the case study below, where did critical thinking fail? How could the scientific method have offered a different outcome?

Case 1: José and the Bull Clearly, any observation that can be interpreted in so osé Delgado, a particularly charismatic neros ien different ways provides little support for any one i ers tation. When there are several possible interpretations tist, demonstrated to a group of newspaper report a remarkable new procedure for controlling aggressiona behavioral observation, the rule is to give (see Horgan, 2005). Delgado strode into a Spanish bull to the simplest one; this rule is called Morgan's ring carrying only a red cape and a small radio transmitter. The following comments of Valenstein (1973) provide With the transmitter, he could activate a battery-powered reasoned view of Delgado's demonstration: stimulator that had previously been mounted on the horns of the other inhabitant of the ring. As the raging bul charged, Delgado calmly activated the stimulator and sent a weak electrical current from the stimulator through an electrode that had been implanted in the caudate nucleus (see Chapter 3), a structure deep in the bull's brain. The bull immediately veered from its charge. After a few such interrupted charges, the bull stood tamely as Delgado swaggered about the ring. According to Delgado, this demonstration marked a significant scientific breakthrough-the discovery of a caudate taming centerto capitalize on every individual effect his electrodes and the fact that stimulation of this structure could elimi- nate aggressive behavior, even in bulls specially bred for their ferocity Actualiy there is no good reason for believing that the stimulation had any direct effect on the bull's record makes it apparent that the charging bull was it was forced to tum around in the same direction continuously. After examining the film, any scientist with knowledge in this field could conclude only that the stimulation had been activating a neural pathway mental evidence that his impression of the underlying To those present at this carefully orchestrated event and to most of the millions who subsequently read about it, Delgado's conclusion was compelling. Surely, if caudate stimulation could stop the charge of a raging bull, the caudate must be a taming center. It was even suggested that caudate stimulation through implanted electrodes might be an effective treatment for human psychopaths. What do you think? matic, albeit ambiguous, demonstrations has been a constant source of material for those whose purposes are served by exaggerating the omnipotence of brain Analysis of Case 1 Delgado's demonstration provided little or no support for his conclusion. It should have been obvious to anyone who did not get caught up in the pro- vocative nature of Delgado's media event that brain stimu lation can abort a bull's charge in numerous ways, most of which are simpler or more direct, and thus more probable than the one suggested by Delgado. For example, the stimulation may have simply rendered the bull confused, dizzy. eepy, or temporarily blind rather than

Explanation / Answer

In this case the scientist failed to address other reasons for the behavior of the bull before concluding the results and generalised his result for all. The scientist instead of exaggerating his findings on caudate taming center or the brain stimulation have focused his research and study on the neural pathways that were activated due to stimulation and caused the behavior in bulls,the results would have been more accurate , reliable and valid. Before generalising his findings the scientist could have thoroughly experimented his findings and thus, would have come up with a different scientific outcome.

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