What is Science? If some was ask to you: What is science? How would you respond? Body of Knowledge Method/Process A Way of Thinking or Constructing Reality

Science or Pseudoscience? How can we differentiate between the scientific knowledge and non-scientific knowledge? Scientific knowledge should be based on empirical evidence. It should be testable. It should be verifiable.

Aspects of the Nature of Science 1.Empirical basis 2.Tentativeness 3.Creativity and Imagination 4.Observation vs. Inference 5.Subjectivity 6.Functions and Relationships of Theory and Law 7.Impact of Social and Cultural Context on Science 8.The Myth of the Universal Scientific Method

What is this a picture of?

Who do you see?

Young Woman

Old Woman

What do you see?

Misconceived Notion of the Relationship of the Categories of Scientific Knowledge Theory Law Hypothesis Observations

Alternative View of the Relationship of the Categories of Scientific Knowledge Social and Cultural Context Hypothesis LawTheory Observation/Data

Fact, Observation, Inference, Prediction, Hypothesis, Theory, Law

Summary Fact: It is used for an observation or explanation that is absolutely true. But no scientists would claim that anything is absolutely true. Observation: a fact based on the use of one of the five senses. Inference: an explanation or an interpretation of observations of one situation or phenomena. Prediction: a forecast of future events based on observation.

Summary Hypothesis: an explanation or interpretation of observation of a number of situations or phenomena. Theory: Theories are inferred explanations for natural phenomena. Theories are more systematic and sophisticated than inference and hypothesis. Law: Laws describe relationships in nature. It is a concise description of regularity usually obtained by generalizing from a set of observations (e.g. law of gravitation)