UNIT 1 – LESSON 1 WHAT IS SCIENCE

WHAT CHARACTERIZES SCIENCE?

Science: the systematic study of natural events and conditions. Community Consensus Use of Empirical Evidence

WHAT CHARACTERIZES SCIENCE? Community Consensus:

Science requires openness and review Scientific Ideas must be TESTABLE and

REPRODUCIBLE

WHAT CHARACTERIZES SCIENCE? Empirical Evidence: Evidence gathered by

use of the senses and includes observations and measurements If Scientific evidence must be observable by all.

Something measurable.

WHAT IS SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION?

Gather Empirical Evidence Form a Hypothesis Test their hypothesis

WHAT IS INVOLVED IN SCIENTIFIC WORK?

Scientific Research takes several key attributes: Careful Observation Curiosity Creativity Logic Skepticism Objectivity

WHAT IS INVOLVED IN SCIENTIFIC WORK

Careful Observation Science requires observation of the world

through the senses or scientific tools

WHAT IS INVOLVED IN SCIENTIFIC WORK

Curiosity Scientists must be curious about the world

around them and wonder how or why something happens.

WHAT IS INVOLVED IN SCIENTIFIC WORK

Creativity Science often involves unorthodox

approaches to solving problems.

WHAT IS INVOLVED IN SCIENTIFIC WORK?

Logic Logic is the ability to reason through

information and make conclusions supported by the evidence.

WHAT IS INVOLVED IN SCIENTIFIC WORK

Skepticism Scientists do not accept everything

immediately. The question before deciding whether something is true or not.

WHAT IS INVOLVED IN SCIENTIFIC WORK

Objectivity Scientists must put aside their personal

feelings, moods, and beliefs as to have unbiased observations

PSEUDOSCIENCE

Pseudoscience: a belief or practice that is based on incorrectly applied scientific methods.

PSEUDOSCIENCE

Similarities to Science: Both claim to be based on empirical evidence Both can sound logical and use technical

language

PSEUDOSCIENCE

Differences from Science: Pseudoscience does not use accepted

scientific methods. Science offers evidence for claims while

Pseudoscience challenges skeptics to disprove claims.

PSEUDOSCIENCE

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkPPnvTXo_Q

Essay: 3.5 Essay outlining the differences between

science and pseudoscience. The first body paragraph should define science. The second and third body paragraphs should outline two separate Pseudoscience theories.