What is Science?

Natural World

Evidence

Organization

Why Study Science?

• Health

• Wiser consumer

• Better-informed citizen

Universal Laws• Science is governed by truths

that are valid everywhere in the universe.

• These truths are called Universal Laws

Science & Ethics• Scientific experimentation &

discovery can have serious ethical implications

• Therefore, scientific investigations require ethical behavior.

Approaches to Learn About Nature

• Discovery Science

• Hypothesis Driven Science

Discovery Science

Jane Goodall

Scientific Method• Process used to answer a

question or explain an observation.

Observations lead to Questions

Hypothesis

• A possible explanation that can be tested.

• Has information to support explanation.

• Written as: If…. Then…. because….

Experiments• Two types

A. Controlled experiment **

B. Study without experimentation

Controlled Experiment

• Control group- (Standard for comparison)

• Experimental group(s)- Ones being tested

• Constants- Same for both groups

•Variables: 1)Independent variable (One changed by scientist)

2)Dependent variable (Changes in response to independent variable)

Analyzing Results• Sort data: graphs, concept

maps, pictures, models, etc.

• Make sense of information

Drawing Conclusions &

Verifying Results

Considering Bias

Scientific Theory

• General explanation for a broad set of data

• Different from a Hypothesis