Science as a Way of Knowing: Critical Thinking About the Environment
Scientific Theory: A grand scheme that relates & explains many observations and is supported by a great deal of evidence. You can't always say its 100% true. Theories have tremendous prestige and are considered greatest achievements of science.
Hypothesis: Different from a theory because it's an educated guess. Based on background information and written with an "If.... then" statement so scientists can test an inference. You can test it to see if it's true or not, but it's not proven true 100%, just found to be probably true.
Variables: There are different types of variables which are dependent & independent.
Controlled Experiment: An experiment that is compared to a standard or control. An exact duplicate of the experiment except the condition of one variable being tested.
Repeatability: Being able to repeat an experiment again with the same outcome
Data:
Hypothesis: Different from a theory because it's an educated guess. Based on background information and written with an "If.... then" statement so scientists can test an inference. You can test it to see if it's true or not, but it's not proven true 100%, just found to be probably true.
Variables: There are different types of variables which are dependent & independent.
- Independent/manipulated: What you can change
- Dependent/responding: Something that responds to the change.
Controlled Experiment: An experiment that is compared to a standard or control. An exact duplicate of the experiment except the condition of one variable being tested.
Repeatability: Being able to repeat an experiment again with the same outcome
Data:
- Quantitative- Numerical (collecting)
- Qualitative- Non numerical (describing)
- Make an observations and develop questions about it
- Develop a hypothesis
- Design a controlled experiment to test the hypothesis
- Collect data
- Interpret data
- Draw conclusion
- Compare your conclusion to your hypothesis
- If your hypothesis is supported test it further by doing more experiment. If rejected, develop a new hypothesis
- Look at historical evidence
- Look at Modern Catastrophes & Disturbances