I. SCIENCE

The process of having or gaining knowledge.

Scientist

A scientist is a person who explores problems and answers questions about the natural world.

a. Observing

Using 1 or more senses to gather information.

Senses include sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell.

b. Predicting

Making a forecast of what will happen in the future based on past experience or evidence.

c. Inferring

Explaining and interpreting the things you observe through your senses.

Not always correct.

Always based on reasoning from observed facts.

d. Scientific Attitudes

Characteristics that maintain “knowledge seeking” attitudes.

Curiosity: Asking questions that no one has thought of before.

Honesty: Reporting truthful results.Open-minded: Accepting new and different

ideas.Creative: New ways of solving problems.Skeptical: Doubt idea’s until fully tested.

II. SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY

The method of studying that natural world and proposing explanations based on the collected evidence.

It is important to note that there in NO set path that inquiry must follow.

Observations at any stage may lead to modifications of hypothesis or experiment.

a. Posing Questions

Inquiry begins with a problem or question about an observation or inferences from observation.

b. Hypothesis

A possible explanation for a set of observations or answer to a scientific question.

Must be testable for gathered evidence to support or disprove the hypothesis

c. Designing an Experiment

Must test hypothesis under controlled conditions set by the scientist (controlled experiment).

Scientists determine how one variable affects the results.

A variable is one of the factors that can change within the experiment.

Types of Variables

Manipulated (Independent _ X-axis) What you are testing, the variable you can control,

change, or manipulate.

Responding (Dependent _ Y-axis) What you are measuring, the variable you cannot control

or change.

By controlling variables, scientists can eliminate the effects of other variables as factors in their results.

d. Collecting and Interpreting Data

The facts, figures, and evidence gathered through observations.

Data tables provide organized ways to collect and record observations.

Graphs are used to analyze and interpret collected data.

Types of Graphs

Bar GraphDisplay data in separate or distinct categories

Line GraphDisplays data to show how one variable changes

in response to another variable.

Circle GraphDisplay for all categories of a topic

e. Drawing Conclusions

A conclusion is a decision about how to interpret what you learned from the experiment.

Make 1 of 2 decisions: Data supports hypothesis.

Data does not support hypothesis

Results suggest new questions that lead to new hypothesis and experiments.

f. Communication

Sharing results through writing and speaking.

Give talks at scientific meetings, exchange information on the Internet, or publish articles in scientific journals.

III. Scientific Theory

Scientific theory is a well-tested concept explaining a wide range of observations.

Has withstood repeated tests.

If tests fail to support theory, scientists may change or abandon it.

IV. Scientific Law

Scientific laws describe what is expected to happen every time under a particular set of conditions.

Describes observed patterns in nature, but does not provide an explanation.

Repeatedly tested and found true.