Nature of Science

Question 1

3 domains of science

Answer 1

Body of knowledge
Process of inquiry
Way of knowing/nature of science

Question 2

Simple statement that describes the way nature operates under a specified set of conditions

Answer 2

Scientific law

Question 3

a logical explanation that explains a broad range of observations
- An explanation of the general principles of certain phenomena with considerable evidence or facts to support it
– Represent solid logical explanations of the natural world, explanations that have stood up under repeated analysis

Answer 3

Scientific theory

Question 4

Scientific process/ Process of inquiry/Science process skills

Answer 4

Making observations
Measuring
Inferring
Comparing
Classifying
Predicting
Examining information to look for causes and effects
Using past knowledge and asking questions to solve problems
Formulation of the problem/question
Formulation of hypothesis
Experimentation
Analysis
Recording and interpretation of observations
Drawing of conclusions
Constructing models

Question 5

Things and events in the universe take place in consistent patterns.
 The world/universe follows certain patterns.
 These patterns can be discovered and understood by studying them, through the use of the
human intellect and science.
 Science assumes that the universe is a vast single system in which the basic rules/patterns
are everywhere the same. (E.g. Principles of motion and gravitation)

Answer 5

The world/universe is understandable.

Question 6

example: good harvest at one time bad harvest at another
time; occurrence of fish kills; falling down of objects

Answer 6

repeatable actually;

Question 7

Science relies heavily on evidences. The validity of scientific claims is settled by evidences.
Evidences are observations.

Answer 7

Scientific knowledge is evidence-based.

Question 8

 Scientific knowledge changes as new evidence becomes available.
 Science is a process for producing knowledge. The process depends both on making careful
observations of things and events and on inventing theories to make sense out of those
observations. Therefore, change in knowledge is inevitable because new observations may
challenge present theories.

Answer 8

Scientific ideas are subject to change.

Question 9

There are many matters that cannot usefully be examined in a scientific way, e.g. existence
of supernatural powers and beings, the true purpose of life. In other cases, a scientific
approach can be used but is likely to be considered as irrelevant by people who hold certain
beliefs, e.g. miracles, fortune-telling, astrology, superstition.

Answer 9

Science cannot provide complete answers to all questions.

Question 9

Although scientists reject the notion of attaining absolute truth and accept some uncertainty
as part of nature, most scientific knowledge is durable. The modification of ideas, rather than
their outright rejection, is the norm in science, as powerful constructs or ideas tend to survive
and grow more precise and to become widely accepted. (E.g. Einstein’s Theory of Relativity
did not discard Newton’s Law of Gravitation)

Answer 9

Scientific knowledge is durable.

Question 10

are statements that describe the environment based on/using our five senses
 are used as evidences to develop scientific knowledge, to support the validity of scientific
claims and ideas.
 Thus, scientists take great pains on getting accurate data or observations.
 are direct enough that most would make the same observation in the same situation
 Accurate observations and data can be made through measurements/measuring
 Scientific laws are generalizations based on vast amounts of observational data.

Answer 10

Observations

Question 11

examples eruption of a volcano; occurrence of a strong typhoon

Answer 11

Repeatable potentially;

Question 12

examples: when you put bleach in a stain, it disappears; when you leave food
uncovered, it easily spoils

Answer 12

Reproducible;

Question 13

the amount of cholesterol in the blood; the presence of black holes;
the temperature of ocean waters using infrared

Answer 13

Indirect observations:

Question 14

the taste of food, the height of a person, the volume of a liquid

Answer 14

Direct observations:

Question 14

the taste of food; the color of things; the smell of things

Answer 14

Qualitative observations:

Question 15

the number casualties or injured in a disaster; the speed of the
center winds of a storm; the height, length, width of an object; the distance of a star

Answer 15

Quantitative observations:

Question 16

are observable phenomenon in a particular situation.
 Examples:
◦ Dinosaurs were cold blooded animals. (not a scientific fact because it cannot be
observed)
◦ The caterpillar is 2.6 cm in length. (scientific fact because it was observed in a particular
situation)

Answer 16

Scientific facts

Question 17

Science strives to make sense of observations of phenomena by constructing explanations
(inferences, deductions) for them. These explanations use, or are consistent with, currently
accepted scientific principles.

Answer 17

Science explains and predicts.

Question 18

Interpretation of observations according to scientific knowledge and principles (or one’s
knowledge from past experiences)
 Judgments based on observations made using scientific knowledge and principles and/or our
past experiences
 Explain observations based on scientific knowledge and/or our past experiences

Answer 18

Inferences

Question 19

Making a reasonable guess about the future based on what has been observed in the past
and the present

Answer 19

Predicting

Question 20

sorting objects or ideas into groups on the basis of observations

Answer 20

Classifying

Question 21

a possible solution to a problem, based on present knowledge and experience (often called
making an “educated guess”)

Answer 21

Hypothesis

Question 22

Scientific arguments conform to the principles of logical reasoning
 Inventing hypotheses or theories to imagine how the world works and then figuring out how
they can be put to the test of reality is as creative as writing poetry, composing music or
designing skyscrapers.
 Sometimes discoveries in science are made unexpectedly, even by accident. But knowledge
and creative insight are usually required to recognize the meaning of the unexpected.

Answer 22

Science is a blend of logic and imagination.

Question 22

Setting up a controlled test which can provide necessary evidences to support hypotheses,
predictions, inferences, theories

Answer 22

Experimentation

Question 22

There is no single scientific method that all scientists follow. There is no fixed set of steps
that scientists always follow.

Answer 22

There are many ways to do science.

Question 23

 Performing activities to test an inference, prediction, hypothesis, or model (involves
recognizing what conditions might affect outcome)
 Activities that gather evidences that support inferences, ideas, hypothesis and the like

Answer 23

Scientific investigation

Question 24

Similarities in methods of various scientific disciplines:

Answer 24

 Reliance on evidence
 Use of hypothesis and theories
 Kinds of logic used
 Common understanding on what constitutes an investigation that is scientifically valid
 Exchange of techniques, information and concepts

Question 25

 Scientific evidence can be biased in how the data are interpreted, in the recording or
reporting of the data, or even in the choice of what data to consider in the first place.
 Scientists' nationality, sex, ethnic origin, age, political convictions, and so on may incline
them to look for or emphasize one or another kind of evidence or interpretation.
 Biases may not be completely avoidable in every instance, but scientists want to know the
possible sources of bias and how bias is likely to influence evidence.
 One way of avoiding bias in an area of study is to have many different investigators or
groups of investigators working in it.

Answer 25

Scientists try to identify and avoid bias.

Question 26

 Although science takes steps not to make errors in observation or experimentation, scientists
are still humans and make mistakes.
 It is important to challenge scientists to view their mistakes or unexpected results as
potentially helpful.
 Scientific works are reviewed and challenged by peers.

Answer 26

Science is prone to human error.

Question 27

Men and women of all ethnic and national backgrounds participate in science and its
applications.
o These people—scientists and engineers, mathematicians, physicians, technicians,
computer programmers, librarians, and others
o Their work may focus on acquiring scientific knowledge either for its own sake or for a
particular practical purpose, and they may be concerned with data gathering, theory
building, instrument building, or communicating.

Answer 27

Scientific work involves many individuals doing many different kinds of work and goes on to
some degree in all nations of the world.

Question 28

o The direction of research, what questions are most interesting or what methods of
investigation are most likely to be fruitful or which proposal will receive funding
reflects the prevailing opinion of society.
o Scientific conclusions can be influenced by scientists’ background knowledge.

Answer 28

As a social activity, science is inevitably influenced by culture, social values and viewpoints.

Question 29

o Scientists are employed by universities, hospitals, business and industry,
government, independent research organizations, and scientific associations.
o They may work alone, in small groups, or as members of large research teams.
o Their places of work include classrooms, offices, laboratories, and natural field
settings from space to the bottom of the sea.

Answer 29

Science goes on in many different settings.

Question 30

o Scientists attend conventions and/or publish their works in scientific journals.
o The advancement of information science (knowledge of the nature of information and
its manipulation) and the development of information technologies (especially
computer systems) affect all sciences. Those technologies speed up data collection,
compilation, and analysis; make new kinds of

Answer 30

Because of the social nature of science, the dissemination of scientific information is crucial
to its progress.

Question 31

University research usually emphasizes knowledge for its own sake, although much
of it is also directed toward practical problems. Universities, of course, are also
particularly committed to educating successive generations of scientists,
mathematicians, and engineers.
o Industries and businesses usually emphasize research directed to practical ends, but
many also sponsor research that has no immediately obvious applications, partly on
the premise that it will be applied fruitfully in the long run.
o The government funds much of the research in universities and in industry but also
supports and conducts research in its many national laboratories and research
centers.
o Private foundations, public-interest groups, and state governments also support
research.
o Funding agencies influence the direction of science by virtue of the decisions they
make on which research to support.

Answer 31

Universities, industry, and government are also part of the structure of the scientific
endeavor.

Question 32

Science enables us to understand the principles on how things behave and the properties of
materials. With this knowledge, engineers are able to develop techniques of manipulations
and come up with designs for technology.
 Engineering – an applied science that combines scientific inquiry, mathematics and
technology in solving practical problems

Answer 32

Science on Technology

Question 33

 Technology provides the eyes, ears and even muscles of science
 It helps science in measurements, data collection, computation, transportation to research
sites, communication among other things
 New instruments and techniques are continuously being developed through technology that
make it possible to advance scientific research

Answer 33

Technology on Science