What Is Scientific Thinking?

1. What Is Scientific Thinking? Science assumes the natural world is • consistent • predictable Goals of science are • to discover patterns in nature • to use the knowledge to predict

2. Curiosity leads to questions Why did the 2004 Tsunami occur? Why is the sky blue? There was a fish kill in the river yesterday. Why is it so warm this month? Why did Duke lose to Wake Forest?

3. What Is Scientific Inquiry? An idea can become a • hypothesis—tentative or untested explanation, educated guess • theory—tested, confirmed, supported hypothesis

4. Scientists Use the SCIENTIFIC METHOD, a refinement of everyday thinking. ASK a QUESTION or Identify a Problem STEP ONE

5. STEP TWO - increase knowledge by observation • Collect preliminary data • Making observations - Sight Smell Hearing Touch • Taking measurements - Satellites, radiation detectors, microscopes etc… • Read

6. STEP THREE • Make a scientific hypothesis – possible explanations (why) about a particular problem. • A “speculative” theory • The “educated guess” ! • If ……………..then statement.

7. EXPERIMENTorganized procedures used to study some phenomenon under known conditions. STEP FOUR • Used to explore hypotheses for validity – true or false? • Must be reproducible for others to examine, repeat, • verify, and criticize.

8. Analyze data – use graphs and charts STEP FIVE STEP SIX • – conclusion(but not the end) • Check validity of hypothesis, true or false • Make a judgment or conclusion based on data analysis. • “Begin” to develop a theory STEP SEVEN REPEAT REPEAT REPEAT • Multiple experiments testing and refining scientific • hypothesis, often by many scientists.

9. STEP EIGHT - Scientific Theory Scientific theories are ideas or principles stated with a high degree of certainty, supported with a GREAT DEAL of evidence from many scientists. They are an explanation of why things happen (the way they have happened, are happening or will happen) It is a basis for predicting future events or discoveries. Theories may be modified as new information is gained. This definition of a theory is in sharp contrast to colloquial usage, where people say something is “just a theory,” thereby intending to imply a great deal of uncertainty. If the theory explains what happens in nature EVERY TIME certain conditions exist, it could be considered a SCIENTIFIC LAW STEP NINE – Communication

10. Experimental procedures • Data collection - tables • Variables - affect processes in the experiment • Constants – factors that do not change, no effect • Controlled experiments have only one variable • Increase constants, reduce variables • Independent variable : set by experimenter • Left side of table, graph on x-axis • Dependent variable : measured changes, dependent on IV • Right side of table, graph on y-axis • Control – for comparison to experimental • Use of placebo

11. Accuracy and Precision • Accuracy • The extent to which a measurement agrees with the accepted or correct value for that quantity. • Precision • A measure of reproducibility, or how closely a series of measurements of the same quantity agrees with one another.