Scientific Method

Set of procedures by which scientists learn about the world

Marine Laboratories

• Woods Hole• Mote Marine Laboratory• Univ. Miami - RSMAS• UC, Santa Barbara• University of Georgia• University of Georgia – Odum School of

Ecology• Univ. Rhode Island

The Scientific Method

Two Ways of Thinking

• Induction: one uses separate observations to arrive at general principles

• Deduction: reasoning from general principles to specific conclusions

InductionBecause sailfish, sharks, and tuna are all fishes, all fishes have gills.

General conclusions made on the basis of specific observations.

DeductionSuppose a marine biologist used induction to make the general statement:

All marine animals have gills. That marine biologist might then reason that if all marine animals have gills and whales are marine animals, then whales must have gills.

HypothesisA statement that might be supported by data.

If (cause), then (effect) statement.

Hypothesis • There are no absolute truths

• Scientists speak of accepting a hypothesis, never proving them

• Testing hypothesis: more confidence can be placed in a hypothesis that has stood up to the hard testing than in an untested one.

• Suggesting an alternative hypothesis.

The nature of scientific proof:

Experiment

Factors affecting observations: variablesControlled vs. experimental variable