2. Chapter: The Nature of Science and Technology
Table of Contents
Chapter: The Nature of Science and Technology
Section 1: What is science?
Section 2: Doing Science
Section 3: Science and Technology

3. What is science? 1
Science in Society
Science is a way or a process used to investigate what is happening around you.
It can provide answers to many questions.
Tools, such as thermometers and metersticks, are used to give numbers to descriptions.
Scientists observe, investigate, and experiment to find answers.

4. What is science? 1
Science Is Not New
Throughout history, people have tried to find answers to questions about what was happening around them.
Early scientists tried to explain things based on their observations.
They used their senses of sight, touch, smell, taste, and hearing to make these observations.

5. What is science? 1
Science as a Tool
Cholera is a disease caused by a bacterium that is found in contaminated water.
People who eat food from this water or drink this water have bad cases of diarrhea and can become dehydrated quickly.
They might even die.

6. What is science? 1
Science as a Tool
E. Coli is another type of bacterium that can contaminate modern food and water supplies.
Some types of E. Coli are harmless, but others cause intestinal problems when contaminated food and water are consumed.
Science can be used to compare how people tracked down the source of the cholera in 1871 with how they track down the source of the E. Coli now.

7. Using Science Every Day—Scientists Use Clues
What is science? 1
Using Science Every Day—Scientists Use Clues
People in the past followed clues to track the source of cholera epidemics and solve their problem.
Today, scientists do the same thing by finding and following clues to track the source of E. Coli in food and water supplies.

8. What is science? 1
Using Prior Knowledge
Scientists use prior experience to predict what will occur in investigations.
Scientists form theories when their predictions have been well tested.
A theory is an explanation that is supported by facts.
Scientists also form laws, which are rules that describe a pattern in nature, like gravity.

9. Using Science and Technology
What is science? 1
Using Science and Technology
The computer is one tool that modern scientists use to find and analyze data.
The computer is an example of technology.
Technology is the application of science to make products or tools that people can use.

10. Observation and Measurement
What is science? 1
Observation and Measurement
Sometimes observation alone does not provide a complete picture of what is happening.
To ensure that your data are useful, accurate measurements must be taken, in addition to making careful observations.

11. Observation and Measurement
What is science? 1
Observation and Measurement
Comparing and contrasting are other important skills.
When scientists look for similarities among data, they compare them.
Contrasting the data is looking for differences.

12. Communication in Science
What is science? 1
Communication in Science
The results of observations, experiments, and investigations are not of use to the rest of the world unless they are shared. This is the last step in the scientific method!
Scientists use several methods to communicate their observations.
List some

13. Communication in Science
What is science? 1
Communication in Science
Results and conclusions of experiments often are reported in one of the thousands of
scientific journals or magazines that are published each year.

14. What is science? 1
Science Journal
Another method to communicate scientific data and results is to keep a Science Journal.
Observations and plans for investigations can be recorded, along with the step-by-step procedures that were followed.
Listings of materials and drawings of how equipment was set up should be in a journal, along with the specific results of an investigation.

15. What is science? 1
Science Journal
You should record mathematical measurements or formulas that were used to analyze the data.
Problems that occurred and questions that came up during the investigation should be noted, as well as any possible solutions.
Your data might be summarized in the form of tables, charts, or graphs, or they might be recorded in a paragraph.

16. Section Check 1
Question 1
_______ is a way or a process used to investigate what is happening around you.
Answer
The answer is science. You use scientific thinking every day.

17. Question 2 1 A _______ is an explanation supported by facts. A. bias
Section Check 1
Question 2
A _______ is an explanation supported by facts.
A. bias
B. hypothesis
C. law
D. theory

18. Section Check 1
Question 3
Which of the following methods of communication does this photo represent?
A. magazine
B. personal diary
C. published article
D. scientific journal
GLE 0607.Inq.5, GLE 0607.Inq.2

19. Solving Problems—Identify the Problem
Doing Science 2
Solving Problems—Identify the Problem
Although the investigation of each problem is different, scientists use some steps in all investigations.
Scientists first make sure that everyone working to solve the problem has a clear understanding of the problem.
Sometimes, scientists find that the problem is easy to identify or that several problems need to be solved.

20. How can the problem be solved?
Doing Science 2
How can the problem be solved?
Two of the methods used to answer questions are descriptive research and experimental research design.
Descriptive research answers scientific questions through observation.
Experimental research design is used to answer scientific questions by testing a hypothesis through the use of a series of carefully controlled steps.

21. How can the problem be solved?
Doing Science 2
How can the problem be solved?
Draw in your notebook!
Scientific methods are ways, or steps to follow, to try to solve problems.
Write down the steps to the scientific method. Memorize these!

22. Describe the Research Design
Doing Science 2
Describe the Research Design
While investigating a cholera outbreak in the 1800s, Dr. John Snow, included the map in his research design.

23. Describe the Research Design
Doing Science 2
Describe the Research Design
The map showed where people with cholera had lived, and where they obtained their water.
He used these data to predict that the water from the Broad Street pump was the source of the contamination.

24. Doing Science 2
Eliminate Bias
Sometimes, scientists might expect certain results, this is known as bias.
Good investigations avoid bias.
One way to avoid bias is to use careful numerical measurements for all data.
Another type of bias can occur in surveys or groups that are chosen for investigations.
To get an accurate result, you need to use a random sample.

25. Equipment, Materials, and Models
Doing Science 2
Equipment, Materials, and Models
When a scientific problem is solved by descriptive research, the equipment and materials used to carry out the investigation and analyze the data are important.

26. Selecting Your Materials
Doing Science 2
Selecting Your Materials
Scientists try to use the most up-to-date materials available to them.
If possible, you should use scientific equipment such as balances, spring sales, microscopes, and metric measurements when performing investigations and gathering data.

27. Selecting Your Materials
Doing Science 2
Selecting Your Materials
Calculators and computers can be helpful in
evaluating or displaying data.

28. Doing Science 2
Using Models
One part of carrying out the investigation plan might include making or using scientific models.
In science, a model represents things that happen too slowly, too quickly, or are too big or too small to observe directly.
Models also are useful in situations in which direct observation would be too dangerous or expensive.

29. Model Videos

30. Doing Science 2
Using Models
Dr. John Snow’s map of the cholera epidemic was a model that allowed him to predict possible sources of the epidemic.
Many kinds of models are made on computers.
Graphs, tables, and spreadsheets are models that display information.

31. Communicating Your Results
Doing Science 2
Communicating Your Results
Every investigation begins because a problem needs to be solved.
Analyzing data and drawing conclusions are the end of the investigation.
Usually, scientists communicate their results to other scientists, government agencies, private industries, or the public.
Scientists usually publish their most important findings.

32. Communicating Your Results
Doing Science 2
Communicating Your Results
You can communicate your data and conclusions to other members of your science class.
Organized data and careful analysis will enable you to answer most questions and to discuss your work confidently.
Analyzing and sharing data are important parts of descriptive and experimental research.

33. Experimental Research Design
Doing Science 2
Experimental Research Design
Another way to solve scientific problems is through experimentation.
Experimental research design answers scientific questions by observation of a controlled situation.
Experimental research design includes several steps.

34. Doing Science 2
Form a Hypothesis
A hypothesis is a prediction, or statement, that can be tested.
You use your prior knowledge, new
information, and any previous observations to form a hypothesis.

35. Doing Science 2
Variables
In well-planned experiments, one factor, or variable, is changed at a time.
This means that the variable is controlled.
The variable that is changed is called the independent variable. (“I” changed)
A dependant variable is the factor being measured. (The outcome)

36. Doing Science 2
Variables
To test which of two antibiotics will kill a type of bacterium, you must make sure that every variable remains the same but the type of antibiotic.
In this experiment, the independent variable is
the amount or type of antibiotic applied to the bacteria.
The dependant variable is the growth of the bacteria.

37. Variables 2 The variables that stay the same are called constants.
Doing Science 2
Variables
The variables that stay the same are called constants.
You cannot run the experiments at two different room temperatures, for different lengths of time, or with different amounts of antibiotics.

38. Doing Science 2
Identify Controls
Your experiment will not be valid unless a control is used.
A control is a sample that is treated like the other experimental groups except that the independent variable is not applied to it.

39. Doing Science 2
Identify Controls
In the experiment with antibiotics, your control is a sample of bacteria that is not treated with either antibiotic.
The control shows how the bacteria grow when left untreated by either antibiotic.

40. Doing Science 2
Number of Trials
Experiments done the same way do not always have the same results.
To make sure that your results are valid, you need to conduct several trials of your experiment.
Multiple trials mean that an unusual outcome of the experiment won’t be considered the true result.
The more trials you do using the same methods, the more likely it is that your results will be reliable and repeatable.

41. Doing Science 2
Analyze Your Results
When you analyze your results, you can see if your data support your hypothesis.
If the data do not support your original hypothesis, you can still learn from the experiment.
Experiments that don’t work out as you had planned can still provide valuable information.
Professional scientists rarely have results that support their hypothesis without completing numerous trials first.

42. Doing Science 2
Analyze Your Results
After your results are analyzed, you can communicate them to your teacher and your class.
Sharing the results of experiments allows you to hear new ideas from other students that might improve your research.
Your results might contain information that will be helpful to other students.

43. Question 1 2 Which answers scientific questions through observation?
Section Check 2
Question 1
Which answers scientific questions through observation?
A. descriptive research
B. experimental research design
C. educated guessing
D. hypothesizing
GLE 0607.Inq.2

44. Section Check 2
Answer
The answer is A. Descriptive research answers scientific questions through observations while experimental research design is used to answer scientific questions by testing a hypothesis through a series a carefully controlled steps.
GLE 0607.Inq.2

45. Question 2 2 What is the first step in solving problems?
Section Check 2
Question 2
What is the first step in solving problems?
A. analyze data
B. draw conclusion
C. form a hypothesis
D. identify the problem
GLE 0607.Inq.1

46. Section Check 2
Answer
The answer is D. Having a clear understanding of the problem is the first step in problem solving.
GLE 0607.Inq.1

47. Section Check 2
Question 3
A _______ is a prediction or statement that can be tested.
Answer
The answer is hypothesis. You use your prior knowledge, new information, and any previous observations to form a hypothesis.
GLE 0607.Inq.5

48. Scientific Discoveries
Science and Technology 3
Scientific Discoveries
New discoveries constantly lead to new products that influence your lifestyle or standard of living.
In the last 100 years, technological advances have enabled environments to move from live stage shows to large movie screens.
What else have we got that are new technological advances?

49. Scientific Discoveries
Science and Technology 3
Scientific Discoveries
Now, DVDs enable users to choose a variety of options while viewing a movie.

50. Technological Advances
Science and Technology 3
Technological Advances
Technology also makes your life more convenient.
Foods can be prepared quickly in microwave ovens, and hydraulic tools make construction work easier and faster.
New discoveries influence other areas of your life as well, including your health.
A disease might be controlled by a skin patch that releases a constant dose of medicine into your body.

51. Science and Technology3
Who practices science?
Scientific discoveries have never been limited to people of one race, male/female, culture, or time period, or to professional scientists.
In fact, students your age have made some important discoveries.

52. Use of Scientific Information
Science and Technology 3
Use of Scientific Information
Science provides new information every day that people use to make decisions.
However, science cannot decide whether the new information is good or bad, moral or immoral.
People decide whether the new information is used to help or harm the world and its inhabitants.

53. Science and Technology3
Looking to the Future
The Internet quickly spreads word of new discoveries.
New knowledge and technology brought about by these discoveries are shared by people in all countries.
Any information gathered from the Internet must be checked carefully for accuracy.

54. Adaptive and Assistive Bioengineering
Adaptive Bioengineering - technology that helps organisms by CHANGING them.

55. Adaptive and Assistive Bioengineering
Assistive Bioengineering - technology that helps organisms WITHOUT changing them.