Scientific Method

REASONING two ways of thinking INDUCTIVE THINKING DEDUCTIVE THINKING identifies a pattern…conducts an investigation…develops a rule (conclusion) specific to general used frequently in science ie. all sheep that I’ve seen are white, therefore all sheep must be white begins w/ a general rule…applies a situation to it general to specific used frequently in math ie. all turtles have shells & the animal I have captured is a turtle, therefore I conclude the animal in my bag has a shell

ie. All dogs have fleas. This is a dog, therefore it must have fleas. ie. I have observed 10,000 dogs & every one of them has fleas, therefore ALL dogs have fleas. ie. All dogs have fleas. This is a dog, therefore it must have fleas. INDUCTIVE DEDUCTIVE

The Scientific Method The scientific method is the procedure by which scientists learn about the world. Scientific knowledge begins with observations. Direct observations can be made by seeing, hearing, feeling, tasting, and smelling. Through advances in technology we have been able to extend our natural ability to observe. Microscopes and satellites help us see. Sonar helps us hear.

While only a good hypothesis can be proven false, no A statement that might be true is called a hypothesis. A good hypothesis must be testable, or in other words, easily proven false if it is in fact false. An example of a bad hypothesis is, “Aliens exist somewhere in the universe.” While only a good hypothesis can be proven false, no hypothesis can be proven absolutely true. An example of a good hypothesis is, “All fish have gills.” Somewhere there may be a fish that doesn’t have gills and can disprove this hypothesis. A hypothesis that has passed so many tests that it is generally regarded as true is called a theory.

In order to test a hypothesis scientists can… 1) rely on simple observations of nature. 2) or artificially create a situation... this is called an experiment. variable - a factor that might affect observations. By choosing to run an experiment instead of making simple observations a scientist can eliminate unwanted variables. Variables that are kept constant and therefore are prevented from affecting an experiment are said to be controlled, and the experiment is said to be a controlled experiment.

The scientific method is limited by scientists. Scientists can make errors. Scientists can be bias. The scientific method is also limited by science itself. Science cannot make judgments about values, ethics, or morality. Science can reveal how the world is but not how it should be.