What is Science

							Ch. 1 Sec. 1




      What is Science?
I. What Science Is and Is Not
    A.Goal
      1. investigate and understand
           the natural world
      2. explain events in the
           natural world
      3. use those explanations to
           make useful predictions
B. Organized way of using evidence to learn
      about the natural world
C. Science also refers to the body of knowledge
      that scientists have built up
II. Thinking Like a Scientist
    • Observation is the process of
      gathering information about
      events or processes in a
      careful, orderly way.
• The information
  gathered from
  observations is called
  data.
    • Quantitative data are
      expressed as
      numbers, obtained by
      counting or
      measuring.
    • Qualitative data are
      descriptive and
      involve characteristics
      that can’t easily be
      measured.
• Scientists use data to make inferences.
• An inference is a logical interpretation
  based on prior knowledge or
  experience.
III. Explaining and Interpreting Evidence
      A. Hypothesis - proposed explanation
                based on
          1. Prior knowledge
          2. Logical inferences
          3. Creative imagination
4. A hypothesis must be testable
     a. Controlled experiments
     b. Gathering new data
5. May or may not be correct
• Researchers often work in teams to
     analyze, review, and critique
     each other’s data and hypotheses.
• A review process helps ensure
     conclusions are valid.
• To be valid, a conclusion must be
     based on logical interpretation of
     reliable data.
IV. Science as a Way of Knowing
   A. Science is an ongoing process that involves:
     1. asking questions
     2. observing
     3. making inferences
     4. testing hypotheses
B. Scientific understanding is always changing.
C. Good scientists are skeptics who question
     both existing ideas and new
     hypotheses.
D. Open-minded
E. Never unethical or
     opinionated
V. Science and
     Human Values
   • An understanding of
     science and the
     scientific approach is
     essential to making
     intelligent decisions.
   • Scientists make
     recommendations
     based on data
     collected through
     research.
• Decisions involve many factors besides
     scientific information, including:
    • the society in which we live
    • economic considerations
    • laws
    • moral principles


 • Citizens decide what to do when they
                   vote.
         1-1 What Is Science?
• The goal of science is to investigate and understand
        the natural world, to explain events in the natural
        world, and to use those explanations to make
        useful predictions.
• Science is different from other human works:
   • Science deals only with the natural world.
   • Scientists collect and organize information in a
        careful, orderly way. They look for patterns
        and connections among events.
• Scientists propose explanations that can be tested by
   looking carefully at evidence.
 Science is defined as an organized way of using evidence to
learn about the natural world. Work in science usually follows
               a path that includes these steps:
 1. Make observations using the senses. The information
    gathered is called data. Scientists use data to make
    inferences. An inference is a logical explanation based
    on knowledge or experience.
 2. Suggest one or more hypotheses. A hypothesis is a
    likely explanation for a set of observations. Scientists
    form hypotheses using knowledge, inference, and
    informed imagination.
 3. Test the hypothesis. Some hypotheses are tested by
    doing controlled experiments. Others are tested by
    gathering more data.
 4. Draw valid conclusions from the data. To be valid, a
    conclusion must be based on logical analysis of reliable
    data.