Nature of Science Flashcards
3 domains of science
Body of knowledge
Process of inquiry
Way of knowing/nature of science
Simple statement that describes the way nature operates under a specified set of conditions
Scientific law
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
Scientific theory
Scientific process/ Process of inquiry/Science process skills
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
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)
The world/universe is understandable.
example: good harvest at one time bad harvest at another
time; occurrence of fish kills; falling down of objects
repeatable actually;
Science relies heavily on evidences. The validity of scientific claims is settled by evidences.
Evidences are observations.
Scientific knowledge is evidence-based.
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.
Scientific ideas are subject to change.
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.
Science cannot provide complete answers to all questions.
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)
Scientific knowledge is durable.
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.
Observations
examples eruption of a volcano; occurrence of a strong typhoon
Repeatable potentially;
examples: when you put bleach in a stain, it disappears; when you leave food
uncovered, it easily spoils
Reproducible;
the amount of cholesterol in the blood; the presence of black holes;
the temperature of ocean waters using infrared
Indirect observations:
the taste of food, the height of a person, the volume of a liquid
Direct observations:
the taste of food; the color of things; the smell of things
Qualitative observations:
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
Quantitative observations:
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)
Scientific facts
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.
Science explains and predicts.
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
Inferences
Making a reasonable guess about the future based on what has been observed in the past
and the present
Predicting
sorting objects or ideas into groups on the basis of observations
Classifying
a possible solution to a problem, based on present knowledge and experience (often called
making an “educated guess”)
Hypothesis
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.
Science is a blend of logic and imagination.
Setting up a controlled test which can provide necessary evidences to support hypotheses,
predictions, inferences, theories
Experimentation
There is no single scientific method that all scientists follow. There is no fixed set of steps
that scientists always follow.
There are many ways to do science.
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
Scientific investigation
Similarities in methods of various scientific disciplines:
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
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.
Scientists try to identify and avoid bias.
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.
Science is prone to human error.
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.
Scientific work involves many individuals doing many different kinds of work and goes on to
some degree in all nations of the world.
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.
As a social activity, science is inevitably influenced by culture, social values and viewpoints.
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.
Science goes on in many different settings.
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
Because of the social nature of science, the dissemination of scientific information is crucial
to its progress.
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.
Universities, industry, and government are also part of the structure of the scientific
endeavor.
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
Science on Technology
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
Technology on Science
