Scientific Processes & Terms

Unit 1: Scientific Processes

Physical Science

Steinbrink

What is Science?

Science is the knowledge obtained by observing natural events and conditions in order to discover facts and formulate laws or principles that can be verified or tested.

Branches of Science

Chemistry

Physics

Biology

Astronomy

Oceanography

Meteorology

Zoology

Geology

What is Pseudoscience?

Research that has the appearance of science but does not follow the scientific method, usually lacking peer review and repetition of observations by independent researchers.

Examples of Pseudoscience

Big Foot

Loch Ness Monster

UFO’s

Psychic Phenomena

Astrology

Inference

Interpreting an observation or statement based on prior knowledge.

An inference is an act of reasoning, not a fact.

Observation

The act of making and recording information by using your senses.– Sight– Hearing– Touch– Smell– Taste

Observation vs. Inference

Sample Observations Sample Inferences

The footprints in the soil each have five toes.

An animal made the footprints.

The larger footprints are about 20 cm long.

A bear made the footprint.

The space between each pair of footprints is about 30 cm.

The animal was walking not running.

Hypothesis

An educated guess that helps to guide the research or experiment study.

A hypothesis is a possible explanation for a problem using what you know and what you observe.

“A tentative answer to a well-framed question—an explanation for a problem that leads to predictions that can be studied by making observations or performing experiments.”

Prediction

Tells what to do to test to see if your hypothesis is correct.

Use If….then…

Quantitative Data

Deals with numbers.Data which can be measured.Length, height, area, volume, weight, speed, time, temperature, humidity, sound levels, cost, members, ages, etc.Quantitative → Quantity THINK NUMBERS

Qualitative Data

Deals with descriptions.

Data can be observed but not measured.

Colors, textures, smells, tastes, appearance, beauty, etc.

Qualitative → Quality

Variables

A factor that changes in an experiment in order to test a hypothesis.

How many variables should you test during an experiment?

Just one variable at a time!

Independent Variable

What you choose to measure in an experiment.

Often times this will be time units.

Graphed on the x-axis

Dependent Variable

Value depends on what happens in the experiment.

This is what you measure or count!

Result of the independent variable.

Graphed on the y-axis.

Scientific Law

A summary of many experimental results and observations; a law tells how things work

Scientific Theory

An explanation for some phenomenon that is based on observation, experimentation, and reasoning.