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Introduction to ScienceIntroduction to Science
Which way to
Science Hall?
Follow
me.
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How to Catch an AlligatorHow to Catch an Alligator
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How to Catch an AlligatorHow to Catch an AlligatorTo catch an alligator, you will need the following tools:
a blanket, a pillow, binoculars, a matchbox, and tweasers.Then, of course, you have to go where the alligators are -
probably a swamp. When you get there, you should put
your blanket down on the shore of the pool where the
alligators are and go to sleep. After a while the alligatorwill come and climb upon the blanket and lie down beside
you and go to sleep too. You, of course, having gone to
sleep earlier, will wake up first. Noticing the alligator you
will take your binoculars, look at him through the wrongend which will diminish his size. Once you nave him cut
down to size, you can use y our tweasers to put him in the
matchbox. Now you have your alligator.
....Essay penned by a gifted child
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Avenues for mans thinking andAvenues for mans thinking and
knowing:knowing: religion (based on faith)religion (based on faith)
philosophy (based on logical reasoning)philosophy (based on logical reasoning)
literature (interpretation of the worldliterature (interpretation of the world
expressed through verbal communication)expressed through verbal communication)
art (interpretation of the world expressedart (interpretation of the world expressed
through production or arrangement ofthrough production or arrangement ofcolors, forms, movements, sounds or othercolors, forms, movements, sounds or other
elementselements
science ?science ?
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SCIENCESCIENCE
Write a definition ofWrite a definition ofsciencescience on the back ofon the back of
your student information sheet.your student information sheet.
Discuss and compare your definition ofDiscuss and compare your definition ofsciencescience with a neighbor.with a neighbor.
Revise your definition ofRevise your definition ofsciencescience..
Form a fourForm a four--square with classmates,square with classmates,discuss the meaning ofdiscuss the meaning ofsciencescience, and revise, and revise
your definition ofyour definition ofsciencescience..
Turn in your information sheet.Turn in your information sheet.
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True or False?True or False?
The work of scientists is to prove theories.The work of scientists is to prove theories.
FalseFalse
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WHAT IS SCIENCE?WHAT IS SCIENCE?
(or what does a scientist do?) observing (collecting data)observing (collecting data)
formulating hypothesesformulating hypotheses
predictingpredicting
conducting experimentsconducting experiments
interpreting data (drawing conclusions)interpreting data (drawing conclusions)
developing theoriesdeveloping theories
applying knowledge to solve problemsapplying knowledge to solve problems
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Important Features of ScienceImportant Features of Science
alternate interpretationsalternate interpretations
revisabilityrevisability
selfself--correctioncorrection
inferencesinferences
verificationverification
repeatabilityrepeatability
level of certaintylevel of certainty
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Alternate Interpretations andAlternate Interpretations and
R
evisability of ScienceR
evisability of Science Explanation of position of Earth in theExplanation of position of Earth in the
universe:universe:
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Alternate Interpretations andAlternate Interpretations and
R
evisability of ScienceR
evisability of Science Explanation of position of Earth in theExplanation of position of Earth in the
universe:universe:
Ptolemy (2nd century Greek astronomer andPtolemy (2nd century Greek astronomer andgeographer): Observing the movement ofgeographer): Observing the movement of
heavenly bodies, Ptolemy concluded that Earthheavenly bodies, Ptolemy concluded that Earth
is the center of the universe.is the center of the universe.
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Alternate Interpretations andAlternate Interpretations and
R
evisability of ScienceR
evisability of Science Explanation of position of Earth in theExplanation of position of Earth in the
universe:universe:
Ptolemy (2nd century Greek astronomer andPtolemy (2nd century Greek astronomer andgeographer): Observing the movement ofgeographer): Observing the movement of
heavenly bodies, Ptolemy concluded that Earthheavenly bodies, Ptolemy concluded that Earth
is the center of the universe.is the center of the universe.
Copernicus (1473Copernicus (1473--1543), a Polish astronomer,1543), a Polish astronomer,
observing the movement of heavenly bodies,observing the movement of heavenly bodies,
concluded that Earth is not the center of theconcluded that Earth is not the center of the
universe.universe.
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Revisability of ScienceRevisability of Science
Aristotle (384Aristotle (384--322 B.C.) observed rats emerging322 B.C.) observed rats emerging
from hay and rags in corner of barn and concludedfrom hay and rags in corner of barn and concluded
that the rats (living) arose from the hay and ragsthat the rats (living) arose from the hay and rags(nonliving). He thought that flies could be(nonliving). He thought that flies could be
produced by first killing a bull, then burying itproduced by first killing a bull, then burying it
with its horns protruding from the ground. Flieswith its horns protruding from the ground. Flies
emerged from one of the horns sawed off severalemerged from one of the horns sawed off severaldays after burial. Aristotles interpretation wasdays after burial. Aristotles interpretation was
that life may arise from the nonliving (theory ofthat life may arise from the nonliving (theory of
spontaneous generation).spontaneous generation).
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Revisability of ScienceRevisability of Science
Experimentation which discreditedExperimentation which discredited
spontaneous generation was conducted by:spontaneous generation was conducted by:
Francesco Redi (Italian) 1668Francesco Redi (Italian) 1668Spallanzani (Italian) 1700sSpallanzani (Italian) 1700s
Louis Pasteur (French) 1862Louis Pasteur (French) 1862
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Experiments discrediting theory
of spontaneous generation
late
1700s
1862
1668
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Science is revisable and selfScience is revisable and self--
correcting.correcting. Be prepared during our next class meetingBe prepared during our next class meeting
to cite additional examples of theto cite additional examples of the
revisability and selfrevisability and self--correction of science.correction of science.
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Alternate Interpretations ofDataAlternate Interpretations ofData
and Revisability of Scienceand Revisability of Science
Interpretation of data (statistics) regardingInterpretation of data (statistics) regarding
the incidence of chromosome anomalies:the incidence of chromosome anomalies:
e.g. Down syndromee.g. Down syndrome
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Conflicting theoriesConflicting theories
(Alternate interpretations)(Alternate interpretations)
Explanations of the extinction of dinosaursExplanations of the extinction of dinosaurs
collision of a large meteorite with Earthcollision of a large meteorite with Earth
(catastrophism)(catastrophism)
gradual climatic changes with overcompetitiongradual climatic changes with overcompetitionby mammals (gradualism)by mammals (gradualism)
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What inferences(s) do you drawWhat inferences(s) do you draw
from observing the following:from observing the following: your classmate wears a UNC sweatshirtyour classmate wears a UNC sweatshirt
a damaged car parked at the curba damaged car parked at the curb
broken tree limbs in a neighbors yardbroken tree limbs in a neighbors yard
Inference: interpretation based on indirect evidence
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Science is based on empiricalScience is based on empirical
evidenceevidence.. Empirical evidence can be observed andEmpirical evidence can be observed and
measured.measured.
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Types of Scientific StudiesTypes of Scientific Studies
descriptive science:descriptive science: explores phenomenaexplores phenomena
by collecting data through observationsby collecting data through observations
without experimentationwithout experimentation experimental science:experimental science: exploresexplores
phenomena through controlledphenomena through controlled
experimentationexperimentation
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Examples of descriptive scienceExamples of descriptive science
Darwins observations led to theDarwins observations led to the
development of a theory of evolutiondevelopment of a theory of evolution
(evolution by means of natural selection).(evolution by means of natural selection).
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Examples of experimentalExamples of experimental
sciencescience Refer to descriptions of experimentsRefer to descriptions of experiments
conducted by Redi, Spallanzani, andconducted by Redi, Spallanzani, and
Pasteur.Pasteur.
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Variables in ExperimentalVariables in Experimental
ScienceScience independent variable: condition which isindependent variable: condition which is
manipulated by the investigator and whichmanipulated by the investigator and which
may be present in multiple levels with onemay be present in multiple levels with onelevel being a controllevel being a control
dependent variable: condition which isdependent variable: condition which is
counted or measured in the experimentcounted or measured in the experiment confounding variables: condition which areconfounding variables: condition which are
not controlled and may affect results of thenot controlled and may affect results of the
experimentexperiment
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Identify variables as indicated:Identify variables as indicated:
Redis experimentRedis experiment
independent variable:independent variable:
dependent variable:dependent variable:
confounding variables(s):confounding variables(s):
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Identify variables as indicated:Identify variables as indicated:
Redis experimentRedis experiment
independent variable: type of covering on jarindependent variable: type of covering on jar
dependent variable:dependent variable:
confounding variables(s):confounding variables(s):
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Identify variables as indicated:Identify variables as indicated:
Redis experimentRedis experiment
independent variable:type of covering on jarindependent variable:type of covering on jar
dependent variable: number of maggotsdependent variable: number of maggots
confounding variables(s):confounding variables(s):
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Identify variables as indicated:Identify variables as indicated:
Redis experimentRedis experiment
independent variable: type of covering on jarindependent variable: type of covering on jar
dependent variable: number of maggotsdependent variable: number of maggots
possible confounding variables(s): temperature,possible confounding variables(s): temperature,
humidity, size of jar, type of meat, sizehumidity, size of jar, type of meat, size
of meat,of meat,
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HypothesesHypotheses
Science proceeds by postulating and testingScience proceeds by postulating and testing
hypotheses.hypotheses.
Hypotheses are tentative explanations ofHypotheses are tentative explanations ofobserved phenomenaobserved phenomena
Purpose of scientific experimentation is toPurpose of scientific experimentation is to
test hypotheses.test hypotheses.
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Compare an hypothesis with aCompare an hypothesis with a
theorytheory hypothesis: tentative explanation ofhypothesis: tentative explanation of
observed phenomenonobserved phenomenon
theory: explanation which is supported bytheory: explanation which is supported bymany experimental events and evidencemany experimental events and evidence
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Science is a way of thinkingScience is a way of thinkingmuch more than it is amuch more than it is a
body of knowledge.body of knowledge.Carl SaganCarl Sagan
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SCIENCESCIENCE
Review your previous definition ofReview your previous definition ofsciencescience
and modify or change the definition basedand modify or change the definition based
on what you have learned in thison what you have learned in thispresentation.presentation.
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CREDITSCREDITS
Slide #11 presented with permission ofSlide #11 presented with permission of
Sinauer Associates,Inc.Sinauer Associates,Inc.
Slide images presented with permission ofSlide images presented with permission ofBenjamin/Cummings Publishing CompanyBenjamin/Cummings Publishing Company