1. What is Science? SECTION 1.1

2. What Is Science and Is Not  Scientific ideas are open to testing, discussion, and revision  Science is an organize way of gathering and analyzing evidence about the natural world.  “Science” also refers to the body of knowledge that scientific studies have gathered over the years.

3. What Features Make Up Science? 1) Science deals only with the natural world. 2) Scientists collect and organize information in an orderly way. 3) Scientists propose explanations that are based on evidence.

4. Goals of Science  In the scientific perspective, all objects and interactions in the universe are governed by universal natural laws.  Aristotle and other Greek philosophers were among the first to view the universe this way.  One goal of science is to provide natural explanations for events in the natural world. Science aims to use those explanations to understand patterns in nature and to make useful predictions about natural events.

5. Scientific Methodology: The Heart of Science  It involves observing and asking questions, making inferences and forming hypothesis, conducting controlled experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and drawing conclusions.

6. Observing and Asking Questions  Scientific investigations begin with observation, the act of noticing and describing events or processes in a careful, orderly way.  “See what everyone sees, but try to see it differently”

7. Inference and Hypothesis  Inference- A logical interpretation based on what scientists already know. Inference + Creative Imagination = Hypothesis  Hypothesis- Scientific explanation for a set of observations that can be tests in ways that support or reject it.

8. Designing Controlled Experiments  Hypothesis are tested by an experiment in which only one variable is changed. All other variables should be controlled (controlled experiment).  Controlling Variables – Independent Variable- Variable that is deliberately changed. Dependent Variable- Variable that is observed and changes based on I.V (Independent Variable).

9. Designing Controlled Experiments  Experiments are divided into control and experiment groups.  Control Group- Exposed to the same conditions except for the experimental group except for one independent variable.  Scientists always try to reproduce or replicate their observations.

10. Collecting and Analyzing Data  2 main types of data: 1) Quantitative- Numbers obtained by counting or measuring. 2) Qualitative- Descriptive and involved characteristics that cannot usually be counted.

11. Collecting and Analyzing Data Research Tools  Scientists choose appropriate tools for collecting and analyzing data.  Could vary from simple pen and paper to complex computer systems. Sources of Error  Important for tools to have limited accuracy.  The larger the sample size of an experiment, the more reliable the research can be.

12. Drawing Conclusions  Scientists take experimental data as evidence to support, refute, or revise the tested hypothesis.  Hypothesis can be reevaluated and changed if experiment is unsuccessful.