“Facts are not science – as the

dictionary is not literature” –Martin H. FischerIf science is not facts, what is it?

The Nature of Science

Natu

re o

f Sc

ienc

e Science is a process

by which we try and understand how the natural world works

Scie

nce

is NO

T… Collecting or memorizing facts or observations ALTHOUGH this does

help!

Scie

nce

is a

proc

ess…

…but not necessarily one “set in stone” system of rules We use the “Scientific

Method” because it is the most commonly observed and used method This method provides

the most understanding and meaning to new scientists

Unce

rtain

ty

There is NO certainty in science There ARE degrees of

probability and potential for change Scientific understanding can ALWAYS be challenged with new evidence

NOTHING in science is ever PROVEN.

Mode

rn sc

ienc

e is

base

d on

seve

ral

assu

mpt

ions

…

The world is real and not just our imagination

Humans can accurately perceive and understand the physical universe

Natural processes are sufficient in explaining the

natural world Nature operates in the same way everywhere in the universe and at all times (except where we have sufficient evidence to

demonstrate otherwise)

Mode

rn sc

ienc

e ha

s lim

itatio

ns…

Observations are limited by human senses

Our senses are unconsciously influenced by previous experience

It is impossible to know if we have observed all possible aspects, controlled all possible variables, or considered every possibility of a phenomenon

Scie

nce

is co

ntin

gent

kn

owle

dge

It is NOT absolute Based only on available evidence NOT on “proof” History of science is

full of changes in understanding and explanations

Scie

nce

mus

t fo

llow

certa

in ru

les

Scientific explanations must

be based on careful observations and testing of

hypotheses It must be able to be disproven Solutions can NOT be based

on opinion, popular belief,

or judgment Explanations cannot be based on supernatural forces (because they cannot

be disproved)

Scie

nce

mus

t fo

llow

certa

in ru

les All hypotheses are not

of equal value The “best” hypothesis is that which best explains ALL the facts/evidence Science is NOT democratic or fair

It is

also

im

porta

nt to

po

int o

ut… …that science CAN be

misused BUT its limitations are its strengths

The Scientific Method

Better than other methods

Obse

rvat

ion

What is happening? Is there anything

interesting?

Purp

ose

What do you want to find out? What is your goal?

Hypo

thes

is What do you think will happen? What is the most

probable outcome? BE CAUTIOUS!

Mate

rials

What things do you need to test your hypothesis?

Proc

edur

e

What will you do to test your hypothesis?

This should include an explanation of how you will use the materials A well designed

procedure will include multiple trials

Inde

pend

ent

Varia

ble

The variable you are testing What will you change?

Depe

nden

t Va

riabl

e What are you measuring? What is the outcome – what units will your data be in?

Cons

tant

s The things that do not change from one trial to the next What might influence

the independent variable that should be maintained?

Cont

rol

The standard to which you will compare your experiments

Resu

lts When you did the experiment, what happened? What did you see,

hear, smell, measure?

Conc

lusio

n

What did your results mean? Was your hypothesis

correct or incorrect? Are further experiments needed?

What could have been improved?

Scientific Theory

Scie

ntifi

c The

ory

A scientific theory is the best fit explanation for a

phenomenon that is repeatedly confirmed through observation and experimentation via the scientific method

Crite

ria fo

r a

scie

ntifi

c the

ory

A theory must be falsifiable A theory must fit a

phenomenon with consistent accuracy

A theory is well supported by many independent strands of evidence, not just one

Crite

ria fo

r a

scie

ntifi

c the

ory

A theory must fit previous knowledge or experimentation A theory can be

adapted to account for new evidence A theory must be the

simplest explanation – Occam’s Razor

Exam

ples

of

Scie

ntifi

c The

ory Quantum Theory Cell Theory Theory of Evolution

Climate Change Plate Tectonics

So w

hat’s

the

diffe

renc

e be

twee

n a

law

and

a th

eory

?

A law is an obvious generalization that describes a phenomenon A theory attempts to

explain why a phenomenon happens Both can be disproven

if and when new evidence is discovered