II - Critical Thinking: Science, Models, & Systems Flashcards
Science
pursuit of KNOWLEDGE
about how the world
works
Technology
creation of NEW products & processes intended to IMPROVE survival, comfort, or quality of life
What are the three basic assumptions about science?
I - ORDER in universe
II - Human mind is CAPABLE of comprehend this order
III - SAME conditions = SAME results
Scientific Process
Observations Hypotheses Procedure Experiments Analysis Conclusion
Hypotheses
proposed to explain observed patterns
a testable statement
FALSIFIABLE
Experiments
Critical tests used to test a hypothesis
Scientific theory
a conceptual formulation which provides a RATIONAL explanation or framework for numerous related OBSERVATIONS
Scientific theory example
Global warming due to greenhouse effect
Scientific Law
a BASIC underlying principle that matter, energy, & certain other phenomena apparently ALWAYS act (or react) in a PREDICTABLE manner
Scientific Law example
Law of gravity
Accuracy
extent to which a measurement agrees
with the accepted or correct value
Precision
measure of reproducibility
Types of Reasoning
Deductive
Inductive
Deductive reasoning
using LOGIC to arrive at a specific CONCLUSION based on a generalization or PREMISE
GENERAL -> SPECIFIC
Deductive reasoning example Eagles
All bird have feathers.
Eagles are birds.
All eagles have feathers
Inductive reasoning
using OBSERVATIONS and facts to
arrive at GENERALIZATIONS or hypotheses
SPECIFIC -> GENERAL
Inductive reasoning example CO2
CO2 is a heat-trapping gas. Human activities release CO2 in the atmosphere. CO2 from human activities is a cause of global climate change.
Frontier science
PRELIMINARY scientific data, hypotheses, and models that have NOT been WIDELY tested
and accepted
UNRELIABLE
Consensus Science
scientific data, models, theories, and laws that are WIDELY accepted
RELIABLE
System
set of COMPONENTS that function & interact in some REGULAR or predictable manner
Structure
Organization of system components
Function
What the system does
Examples of systems
Circulatory
Automobile