What is science? What is scientific inquiry?

Science is: A way of learning about the natural world

Scientists use many skills to learn:

Observing Using one or more of your senses to gather information Sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell Quantitative observations deal with numbers or amounts Qualitative observations deal with descriptions

Inferring Inferences are guesses based on reasoning about what you already know. For example, your friend gets back a test and smiles, you infer that she got a good grade because of the smile, but really the smile may have nothing to do with the test.

Predicting Making a forecast of what will happen in the future based on past evidence or experience. For example, if I am playing tennis against an opponent that I have beaten in the past, I might predict that I will win. I might not be correct, but that is my prediction.

Predictions & Inferences are closely related: An inference explains what is happening or has happened A prediction explains what will happen BOTH BASED ON PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OR EXPERIENCE

Classifying A process of grouping together items that are alike in some way This helps in organization and comparing things Example: one drawer for socks another for shirts.

Making Models Creating representations of complex objects or processes. Help people study & understand things that can’t be observed directly

Section 2: Scientific Inquiry This term refers to the ways that scientists study the natural world AND how they propose explanations based on that study.

Posing Questions Scientists are curious. They want to understand why things happen in the world around them. Some questions can not be answered using science. WHY? Example: 1. Does my dog eat more then my cat? 2. Which is a better pet a cat or a dog?

Developing a Hypothesis A possible explanation for a set of observations or an answer to a scientific question. Must be testable- have to gather evidence to support or disprove.

Designing an Experiment Controlled experiment: one in which only one variable is changed. The variable changed is the independent variable. The factor that changes in response to the independent variable is the dependant variable. A good experiment will also have an operational definition- statement that describes how you are measuring the variable.

Collecting data Data is recorded on a data table. At the end of the experiment the data is compiled into a graph to interpret.

Drawing conclusions Science is creative!! After interpreting the data a scientist has to draw conclusions about what the data means. This may lead to new questions and new experiments!

Communicating Scientists must be able to communicate their findings with other researchers Usually done through publication in a scientific journal

Scientific Attitudes Curious Honest Open-minded- accepting of new ideas Skeptical “an attitude of doubt”- must show persuasive evidence before claims can be trusted. Creative