1. How does Scientific Knowledge Develops?
The World of Science
Table of Contents
Scientific Investigation
2.1
Essential Question
How does Scientific Knowledge Develops?
Ms. De Los Rios
7th

2. Vocabulary 2.1
Scientific explanation-A generalization that makes sense of observations by using logical reasoning.
(valid)
Empirical Evidence- Data and observations that are collected through scientific processes and that explain a particular observation.
Opinion- An idea about a situation that is not supported by evidence.

3. How Do Scientist Form Scientific Explanations? Pg. 65
how something works
A scientific explanation describes or why something happens.
How do scientist form a scientific explanation?
researching information
Scientists use methods such as: designing experiments
and making models

4. How Do Scientist Form Scientific Explanations? Pg. 65
Scientists in different fields use different methods.
For example,
Geologists research information about a land area before allowing drilling for oil or natural gas.
Physicists design experiments to understand how matter behaves on a tiny scale.
Biologists make models of cell division to understand how cells divide.
Scientist often use more than one method.

5. What Is the Basis for Scientific Explanations? PG. 66
Collecting and Analyzing Evidence
Empirical evidence is data and observations that have been collected through scientific processes.
Scientific explanations are always based on empirical evidence.
For example: Analyzing what’s causing erosion of Florida’s coastline.
Begin to collect data* Empirical Evidence
using computers to map coastline.
Take pictures of the beaches.
Look for patterns and trends when evaluating data

6. To answer a question, a Scientist would:
begin by collecting empirical evidence. (Data and observations)
Then, they analyze this evidence to form a scientific explanation.
Sometimes scientists need to change their explanations based on new evidence.
Other times, scientists interpret the same evidence in different ways.
For this reason, scientists evaluate, or determine the quality of, each other’s scientific explanations.

7. What Is the Basis for Scientific Explanations? PG. 67
Evaluating
To evaluate another scientist’s explanation, a scientist will:
study all the evidence and the other scientist’s conclusions.
They point out any errors in the scientist’s analysis.
The evaluating scientist may challenge the other’s scientific explanations.

8. What Is the Basis for Scientific Explanations? PG. 67
If there are any errors in the scientist’s analysis, the evaluating scientist may challenge the other’s conclusions.
Sometimes, scientific explanations are based on an opinion
opinion is an idea that may be formed from evidence but has not been confirmed by evidence.
Explanations that are based on opinion rather than evidence are not scientific.

9. Scientific Knowledge is a Process pg. 67 Elab
What three methods do scientist us to form scientific explanations?
R_______________ I________________
D_______________ e_______________
Make ____________
How do scientist collaborate to test scientific explanations?

10. Scientific Investigation pg. 66
(Y-Axis Dependent V.)
X– Axis (independent v.)
Sprouted Seeds
Scientists often use graphs to analyze the evidence collected during an experiment.
This graph shows how many radish seeds sprouted over time at two different temperatures.