Science As a Process!!!!!. Science A process through which nature is studied, discovered, and understood. A process through which nature is studied, discovered,

Science Science

As aAs a

Process!!!!!Process!!!!!

ScienceScience

•A process through which A process through which nature is nature is studied, studied, discovered, and understood.discovered, and understood.

•All areas of science involve All areas of science involve posing posing INQUIRIESINQUIRIES (questions) about nature.(questions) about nature.

Processes of ScienceProcesses of Science

•ObservingObserving

•HypothesizingHypothesizing

•ExperimentingExperimenting

•MeasuringMeasuring

Processes of ScienceProcesses of Science

•Collecting/Organizing Collecting/Organizing data data

•Analyzing data Analyzing data

•ConcludingConcluding

•CommunicatingCommunicating

Terms and DefinitionsTerms and Definitions

•Facts -- Data or Facts -- Data or EVIDENCEEVIDENCE that can be that can be OBSERVED OBSERVED repeatedlyrepeatedly– ExampleExample::


•Inference -- A Inference -- A CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION drawn on the basis of drawn on the basis of FACTSFACTS– Example:Example:


•Hypothesis -- An Hypothesis -- An EDUCATEDEDUCATED guess – a guess – a TESTABLETESTABLE statementstatement– Example:Example:


•Theory -- The most probable Theory -- The most probable EXPLANATIONEXPLANATION based on the based on the best available best available EVIDENCEEVIDENCE..– Example:Example:


•Law -- Law -- A general statement A general statement that that DESCRIBESDESCRIBES or explains or explains a wide variety of a wide variety of PHENOMENON, something PHENOMENON, something that we KNOW to be truethat we KNOW to be true– Example:Example:


•Superstition -- A Superstition -- A BELIEFBELIEF that that is is NOTNOT based on evidence based on evidence– Example:Example:

Scientific MethodScientific Method

•1. Stating a 1. Stating a problemproblem – - - problem: solution is not obvious. problem: solution is not obvious.

crucial information is missing. crucial information is missing.

– Solving the problem involves finding this Solving the problem involves finding this missingmissing information. information.


•2. 2. CollectingCollecting information on information on the problem – “BACKGROUND”the problem – “BACKGROUND”– the more you know about the the more you know about the

problem the more problem the more preciselyprecisely it it can be stated, which means less can be stated, which means less wasted time looking for solutions.wasted time looking for solutions.


•3. Making a 3. Making a hypothesishypothesis--– a. Use what you know about a. Use what you know about

the problem to the problem to predictpredict a a solution and try it.solution and try it.

– b. Look for b. Look for patternspatterns that will that will help you make predictions help you make predictions about the problem.about the problem.


•3. Making a 3. Making a hypothesishypothesis--– c. Make a c. Make a modelmodel, or a , or a

representation, of what representation, of what you’re working with.you’re working with.

– d. Break the problem d. Break the problem downdown into smaller, simpler problems.into smaller, simpler problems.


•4. Design and 4. Design and Perform the Perform the experiment - the design should experiment - the design should directly test the hypothesisdirectly test the hypothesis– allows you to make a solid allows you to make a solid conclusionconclusion about the hypothesis about the hypothesis

– IS YOUR HYPOTHESIS TESTABLE??IS YOUR HYPOTHESIS TESTABLE??


•5. Make a 5. Make a conclusionconclusion - a - a solid conclusion is related to solid conclusion is related to the hypothesis and based on the hypothesis and based on the the resultsresults of a well of a well designed experiment.designed experiment.

Experimental Design Experimental Design ConceptsConcepts

•A science experiment is A science experiment is designed so that only designed so that only ONEONE variable is tested at a time.variable is tested at a time.

•Clear procedure that can be Clear procedure that can be repeated giving similar repeated giving similar resultsresults


•A A VARIABLEVARIABLE is is something that is something that is changed to study how changed to study how this change effects the this change effects the thing being studied.thing being studied.


•By changing only one By changing only one variable, when you make variable, when you make your conclusion you can be your conclusion you can be assured that it is only that assured that it is only that one variable that is one variable that is causing the causing the EFFECTEFFECT..


•Independent variable Independent variable (IV)(IV) - the variable that is - the variable that is purposely purposely CHANGEDCHANGED by by the experimenter.the experimenter.


•Dependent variable Dependent variable (DV)(DV) - the variable that - the variable that responds and is the responds and is the variable variable MEASUREDMEASURED..


•Constant (C) - all factors Constant (C) - all factors that are kept the that are kept the SAMESAME during the experiment.during the experiment.


•CONTROLCONTROL - the - the standard to compare the standard to compare the experimental effect experimental effect against.against.


•Repeated trials - the Repeated trials - the NUMBERNUMBER of objects/organisms of objects/organisms undergoing treatment for each undergoing treatment for each value of the independent value of the independent variable ORvariable OR

•the number of the number of TIMESTIMES the the experiment is repeated.experiment is repeated.

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Science As a Process!!!!!. Science A process through which nature is studied, discovered, and understood. A process through which nature is studied, discovered,