Progression of inquiry

Q.1.4 Common problems in scientific investigation are epistemological in nature. Where in the progression of inquiry are most epistemological problems located ... 

The natural line of inquiry is to study the progress of a given reaction on various catalytic surfaces, to determine the relative numbers of molecules adsorbed on each surface, and to seek a correlation between the heat of activation, using provisionally the apparent value as a sufficiently good approximation to the true value, and the velocity of change referred to equal numbers of adsorbed molecules. Unfortunately, no example has hitherto been found suitable for experimental investigation, in which both the adsorptions and the reaction velocities can be measured. Thus no really valid test can be made. The existence of centres of varying activity would still further complicate the interpretation even of direct measurements of adsorption. 

The modem era of inquiry into the history of seawater can be said to have begun with the work of Conway (1943, 1945), Rubey (1951), and Barth (1952). Much of the progress that was made between the appearance of these publications and the early 1980s was summarized by Holland (1984). This chapter describes a good deal of the progress that has been made since then. 

It was mentioned earlier that we need numbers for keeping account of transactions. Numerical statements of fact in any area of inquiry are known as statistics. Statistical methods of mathematical processes are used to summarize numerical data and help in their interpretation. For example, instead of listing everyone s test scores on an examination and comparing them to last year s scores, it is more expedient to calculate average scores as a measure of class progress. 

Bury, J. B., The Idea of Progress An Inquiry into Its Origin and Growth (London Macmillan, 1924). 

Uff Report devotes a chapter to delays to the progress of the inquiry. See chapter 8 of rt. 

Speakers describe the challenges they face and corrununicate the excitement of their work to a technically sophisticated but non-speciahzed audience. Each speaker provides a brief overview of his/her field of inquiry defines the frontiers of that field describes experiments, prototypes, and design studies that have been completed or are in progress, as well as new tools and methodologies, and limitations and controversies and summarizes the long-term significance of his/her work. 

Safety case regulation modelled on the Seveso directives has been developing in Australia in recent years. From about 1995 Australian offshore petroleum production has been subject to a safety case requirement, while on shore, a major federal government report in 1996 recommended that the Australian states should introduce safety case requirements for major hazard facilities (NOHSC, 1996). Little progress had been made in implementing this recommendation by the time of the accident at the Esso Longford gas plant in Victoria in 1998. A Royal Commission of inquiry into this accident recommended the implementation of a safety case regime for major hazard... 

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