How Science Works Flashcards
What does science try to do?
It tries to explain how and why things happen by answering questions.
How do scientists come up with a theory and test it?
1) They make an observation and ask why or how it happens.
2) They suggest an answer, or part of an answer, by forming a theory.
3) They make a prediction or a hypothesis-a specific testable statement, based on the theory, about what will happen in a test situation.
4) They will carry out a test to provide evidence that will support the prediction or help to disprove it.
What happens with scientists results?
They are published in scientific journals, which are magazines that contain scientific reports.
Before a report is published what needs to happen to it?
It needs to undergo a peer review- scientists of the same area examine the work and decide if it’s reasonable to be published.
What happens after report is published?
Other scientists will test the theory by repeating the same experiment and also use the theory to make new predictions.
If all the experiments in the world provide good evidence to back it up what is the theory thought as?
Scientific fact. (For now)
What do scientists do if they can’t get results from carrying out an experiment?
They carry out studies.
What’s good about lab experiments?
A lab is the easiest place to control variables so that they’re kept constant except the one your investigating. Meaning you draw meaningful conclusions.
Why would you do a study?
Because there are things that can’t be tested in a lab.
What may be hard but must be done as best as possible when doing a study?
Keep it as controlled as possible to make it valid.
What factors may influence science and the way it’s used?
Economic
- society has to consider the cost of implementing changes based on scientific conclusions.
- scientific research is expensive so companies won’t always develop new ideas
Scoial factors
-Decisions affect people’s lives e.g smoking is bad for your health but it’s a persons decision whether they do it or not.
Environmental factors
- some scientific experiments and findings may be detrimental to the environment.
What is scientific process?
How we test and develop scientific ideas.
