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The Study of Science

The Study of Science. The first “scientists” were actually philosophers who relied on rational thought and logic Is really hard to say who was really the “first scientist”.

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The Study of Science

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  1. The Study of Science The first “scientists” were actually philosophers who relied on rational thought and logic Is really hard to say who was really the “first scientist”

  2. Science can be distinguished from other fields of study because there are precise methods or guidelines for the procedures necessary for conducting research Science must be unbiased or does not reflect the opinion of any scientist It is how we use the knowledge that produces good or bad results.

  3. Science can be divided into two categories: Pure Science – • a process that humans use to seek and organized way to understand and explain the natural world • it is knowledge for knowledge sake • the study of science alone Applied Science – • implementation of the scientific knowledge from one or more natural scientific fields to practical problems

  4. Example: Pure Science- studying the human eye and vision Applied Science- (technology), designing glasses or lenses

  5. Scientific Method • Procedure that scientists use to carry out research • Tries to answer the questions of what, where, how, why and when • Scientists make observations, gather info and attempt to draw conclusions • Is not always a straight forward process • Sometimes steps are repeated

  6. Scientific Method • It’s a blend of creative and critical thinking processes with problem solving techniques • The process involves four basic steps

  7. 1st Step of the Scientific MethodMake observations • Observations lead to the formulation of a question or a problem that needs solving • Observations can be quantitative (referring to how much) and qualitative (referring to descriptive terms like color, texture, etc.) • Formulation of a question or a problem that needs solving.

  8. 2nd Step of the Scientific MethodForm a hypothesis • Formulate reasonable explanation for these observations • Is a working or reasonable explanation for a phenomenon based on observations or a trail answer to a problem. • A hypothesis must be a testable statement upon which the experiements are based

  9. 3rd Step of the Scientific Method Experimentation • The hypothesis must be validated • Done with experiments = a systematic test of variables • Be sure to include a control trial to provide a basis for comparison

  10. Experimentation • Will also have the variables which you will be collecting data on and observing • Variables = conditions that you change between the various trials in your experiment • Only one variable per set of experiments

  11. For an experiment to be valid: • Must be set up so they are not biased toward any one answer • Must be repeated so that all experiements lead to the same results.

  12. Data • Data will be collected • Data will be organized in tables or charts and graphs • Evaluate the data to see if the hypothesis is valid

  13. Hypothesis not correct • Sometimes experiments disprove the hypothesis • Scientists might either reject original hypothesis and formulate a new one OR • Revise the original hypothesis • Process is repeated until hypothesis is validated to the limits of the experimental data gathered

  14. 4th Step of the Scientific MethodFormulate a conclusion • Summary of the results of the experiment. • This may or may not support the hypothesis • In the research world of science the conclusion may be presented as a Theory or Law depending upon the type of results collected.

  15. Law • Expression of a consistent pattern in nature. • Something that always occurs under a certain set of conditions • Because Laws summarize the facts or nature, they rarely change • Examples: Law of Conservation of Energy, Law of Conservation of Matter, Law of Gravity

  16. Theory • Tested model that explains a natural phenomenon • However it cannot be proven absolutely correct! • It is the best explanation based on experimental evidence • Examples: Theory of Evolution, Big Bang Theory

  17. Make observations Look for patterns Collect preliminary Data Propose an Hypothesis Gather and organize Data Analyze the data Design an Experiment Proves hypothesis valid Proves hypothesis invalid Revise hypothesis State a Conclusion Law Theory

  18. Observation - you see something (say an ant on a kitchen table) Question - (you ask, "Why is it there")Hypothesis - you propose a reason (he's searching for food)Experiment - you put food where he can reach it What could be the results and conclusion?

  19. Observation: In many parts of Europe, medieval farmers stored grain in barns with thatched roofs (like Shakespeare’s house). As a roof aged, it was not uncommon for it to start leaking. This could lead to spoiled or moldy grain, and of course there were lots of mice around. Hypothesis: Mice came from the moldy grain. It was obvious to them that the mice came from the moldy grain …

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