Science is a process. It is a systematic process. The goal of the process is to gain understanding of how nature and the physical world work.

Nothing. Science actually attempts to disprove ideas (hypotheses). Ideas that are not supported by data are discarded. Ideas that are supported by data are accepted (not proven, though).

No. Science is limited strictly to solving problems about the physical and natural world. Explanations based on supernatural forces, values or ethics can never be disproved and thus do not fall under the realm of science.

No. Science can be done poorly. Also, new evidence can arise to challenge and/or invalidate prior discoveries. The process of scientific discovery constantly refreshes knowledge by updating itself.

No. Scientific studies must follow certain rules (the Scientific Method). These rules make the Scientific Method as objective as possible.

 Objective = Not influenced by feelings, interests and prejudices; UNBIASED  vs.  Subjective = Influenced by feelings, interests and prejudices; BIASED  In science, evidence overrules interest.

Independent duplication = Two or more scientists from different institutions investigate the same question separately and get similar results. Peer-reviewed journal = A journal that publishes articles only after they have been checked for quality by several expert, objective scientists from different institutions. The scientific community engages in certain quality control measures to eliminate bias. Results are verified by independent duplication and publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Non-Scientific Language “Scientifically-proven” * Science does not seek to prove but to disprove * Be suspicious of this claim! Emotional appeals * Conclusions should be data-based * Emotional appeals usually are not data-based Strong language * Scientific conclusions should only report what the data supports. * Words should be chosen very carefully to avoid exaggeration or claims not supported by data. The data should convince you, not the words used!

Scientific Language Hypothesis * An educated guess based on observation. * Can be disproven, but not proven to be true. Theory * Summarizes one or more hypotheses that have been supported with repeated testing. * Is valid as long as there is no evidence to dispute it. * Basically an accepted hypothesis. Law * A generalization of observations. * Laws explain, but do not describe. *Unlike a theory, a law does not attempt to explain ‘why’. * In science, a theory is generally considered more important than a law because theories provide explanations and laws do not.