1. Section 2: The Nature of Science
Science is a process based on inquiry that develops explanations. K
What I Know W
What I Want to Find Out L
What I Learned

2. Essential Questions
What are the characteristics of scientific inquiry?
What are the differences between science and pseudoscience?
What is scientific literacy important?
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The Nature of Science

3. Vocabulary Review New investigation science theory law peer review
ethics
The Nature of Science
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4. What is science?
Science is a body of knowledge based on the study of nature.
The nature, or essential characteristics, of science is scientific inquiry.
Scientific inquiry is both a creative process and a process rooted in unbiased observations and experimentation.
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The Nature of Science

5. What is science?
A theory is an explanation of a natural phenomenon supported by many observations and experiments over time.
A scientific law describes relationships under certain conditions in nature, but does not explain why the relationship is the way it is.
Theories do not become laws and laws do not become theories.
The Nature of Science
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6. What is science? Makes observations and draws conclusions
Scientists choose subjects to study and decide what types of data to collect.
They analyze the data collected to draw conclusions.
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The Nature of Science

7. What is science? Expands knowledge
Scientific explanations combine what is already know with evidence from additional observations and experiments.
Driven by the search for new knowledge
Constantly reevaluate what is known
Pseudosciences imitate science
Driven by cultural or commercial goal
New questions and additional research are not welcomed
The Nature of Science
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8. What is science? Challenges accepted theories
Scientists welcome debate about one another’s ideas.
Sciences advance by accommodating new information as it is discovered.
The Nature of Science
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9. What is science? Questions results
In science, observations or data that are not consistent with current scientific understanding are of interest.
These inconsistencies often lead to further investigations.
In pseudoscience, inconsistencies are discarded, or ignored.
The Nature of Science
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10. What is science? Tests claims
Scientists use standard experimental procedures.
Their claims based on a large amount of data and observations obtained from unbiased investigations and carefully controlled experimentation.
Pseudoscientists make claims that cannot be tested, or are a mixture of fact and opinion.
The Nature of Science
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11. What is science? Undergoes peer review
Before it is made public, science-based information is reviewed by scientists’ peers.
Peer review is a process by which the procedures used during an experiment and the results are evaluated by other scientists who are in the same field or who are conducting similar research.
The Nature of Science
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12. Science in Everyday Life
Science literacy
A person who is scientifically literate combines a basic understanding of science and its processes with reasoning and thinking skills.
Ethics is a set of moral principles or values.

13. Review Essential Questions Vocabulary
What are the characteristics of scientific inquiry?
What are the differences between science and pseudoscience?
What is scientific literacy important?
Vocabulary
science
theory
law
peer review
ethics
The Nature of Science
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