It can be studied using one of the variety of research tools. It does not involve personal opinion.

Observation Experimentation Computer Modeling Research Technological Data Gathering Tests/Surveys

Scientific investigation usually starts with a question.

The act or instance of regarding attentively or watching.

The act, process, practice, or an instance of making experiments. Experiment - a test, trial, or tentative procedure; an act or operation for the purpose of discovering something unknown or of testing a principle, supposition.

Independent (manipulated/test) variable – the variable that is INTENTIONALLY changed during an experiment. Dependent (responding/outcome) variable – the variable that may or may not change in RESPONSE to the change in the independent variable. Control variables – all other variables within the experiment which must remain the same.

If there are two independent variables we will not know what caused the change in the dependent variable!

Hypothesis – a statement, based on the original question, that CAN BE TESTED! A DEFINITE and COMPLETE procedure that allows for REPLICATION.

Repetition – the duplication of trials within one experiment. Replication – to completely duplicate an entire experiment EXACTLY from start to finish.

So that another scientist (or the same scientist) can perform an experiment in exactly the same way to see if they achieve the same results.

They should repeat BOTH experiments again.

We use our new technologies to help explain things we cannot know from observation. Example: By studying dinosaur bones, and entering data measurement, and other information gathered, computer models have given us a simulation of what the different dinosaurs looked like.

Computers and the internet have allowed us to access information from millions of sources that were previously difficult to compile. This has led to scientific discovery previously unavailable.

Technological Equipment such as satellites have allowed us to gather scientific data on remote regions of the Earth previously unavailable to us.

These allow us to compile a larger amount of data to help us answer scientific questions about various subjects.

Because as we grow in technological ability, we are able to study in more depth. This leads us to new information which sometimes changes what we thought to be true.

Pluto is no longer considered a planet. Why not? Because Scientists have redefined the requirements for what is to be labeled a planet based on the more advanced information in their knowledge arsenals. This information came from technological advances which allowed us to study space in more depth, like satellites and the Hubble telescope.