1. Science as a Way of Knowing
Chapter 2
Science as a Way of Knowing
Botkin & Keller
Environmental Science 5/e

2. Environmental Science 5/e
What makes questioning – SCIENCE
Botkin & Keller
Environmental Science 5/e

3. Environmental Science 5/e
Disprovability
If you can think of a test that could disprove a statement, then that statement can be said to be scientific.
If you can’t think if a test, then the statement is said to be nonscientific.
Botkin & Keller
Environmental Science 5/e

4. Environmental Science 5/e
Examples
The school’s cell phone policy is unfair.
Non-scientific-
40% of students state that the cell phone policy is unfair.
Scientific- This statement CAN be disproved
Botkin & Keller
Environmental Science 5/e

5. Environmental Science 5/e
Scientific Method
Actually a set of methods which are the systematic methods by which scientists investigate natural phenomena
Botkin & Keller
Environmental Science 5/e

6. Environmental Science 5/e
Read pgs
Copy the “Scientific Method” diagram
What is meant by serendipity?
Botkin & Keller
Environmental Science 5/e
© 2008 John Wiley and Sons Publishers

7. Measurements and Uncertainty
Experimental errors:
Measurement uncertainties and other errors that occur in experiments.
Accuracy:
The extent to which a measurement agrees with the accepted value
Precision:
The degree of exactness with which a quantity is measured
Botkin & Keller
Environmental Science 5/e

8. Environmental Science 5/e
Precision vs. Accuracy
Botkin & Keller
Environmental Science 5/e