SC.912.N.1.1 The Nature of Science
Standard SC.912.N.1.1 Students should be able to:
- Define a problem based on a specific body of knowledge, for example: biology, chemistry, physics, and earth/space science, and do the following:
- Pose questions about the natural world, (Articulate the purpose of the investigation and identify the relevant scientific concepts).
- Conduct systematic observations, (Write procedures that are clear and replicable. Identify observables and examine relationships between test (independent) variable and outcome (dependent) variable. Employ appropriate methods for accurate and consistent observations conduct and record measurements at appropriate levels of precision. Follow safety guidelines).
- Examine books and other sources of information to see what is already known,
- Review what is known in light of empirical evidence, (Examine whether available empirical evidence can be interpreted in terms of existing knowledge and models, and if not, modify or develop new models).
- Plan investigations, (Design and evaluate a scientific investigation).
- Use tools to gather, analyze, and interpret data (this includes the use of measurement in metric and other systems, and also the generation and interpretation of graphical representations of data, including data tables and graphs), (Collect data or evidence in an organized way. Properly use instruments, equipment, and materials (e.g., scales, probeware, meter sticks, microscopes, computers) including set-up, calibration, technique, maintenance, and storage).
- Pose answers, explanations, or descriptions of events,
- Generate explanations that explicate or describe natural phenomena (inferences),
- Use appropriate evidence and reasoning to justify these explanations to others,
- Communicate results of scientific investigations, and
- Evaluate the merits of the explanations produced by others.
What is Science?
CONPTT: NATURE OF SCIENCE - INTRODUCTION Based on original prepared by Steven M. Dickhaus, Perry Meridian High School
Science is limited to studying only the problems of the natural world that can be understood by using the processes of science.
1. Scientists deal with natural phenomena (events) which can be observed, measured, and tested by scientific methods; they must be able to use their senses to observe (directly and/or indirectly) and evaluate.
2. The processes of science are very successful in dealing with problems within the limits of science.
3. Scientific study is based upon the assumption that the universe is orderly, reasonable, and testable.
4. A valid scientific theory offers a well-defined naturally occurring cause (mechanism) which explains why or how a natural event (phenomenon) occurs.
5. Scientific theories are always subject to change (tentative, uncertain).
6. Science does not have the answers to all of the questions in the universe, or the solutions to all human problems.
1. Scientists deal with natural phenomena (events) which can be observed, measured, and tested by scientific methods; they must be able to use their senses to observe (directly and/or indirectly) and evaluate.
2. The processes of science are very successful in dealing with problems within the limits of science.
3. Scientific study is based upon the assumption that the universe is orderly, reasonable, and testable.
4. A valid scientific theory offers a well-defined naturally occurring cause (mechanism) which explains why or how a natural event (phenomenon) occurs.
5. Scientific theories are always subject to change (tentative, uncertain).
6. Science does not have the answers to all of the questions in the universe, or the solutions to all human problems.
SCIENCE IDENTIFICATION CRITERIA or THE CHARACTERISTICS OF SCIENCE
Six Criteria of Science:
Consistent, Observable, Natural, Predictable, Testable, and Tentative. The sequence is not important, but the acronym "CONPTT" makes a good long term memory hook.
- Consistency: The results of repeated observations and/or experiments concerning a naturally occurring event (phenomenon) are reasonably the same when performed and repeated by competent investigators. The event is also free from self-contradiction: it is consistent in its applications. The weight of the evidence is also compatible with well established observations and limits.
- A) Green plants will grow towards a light source.
- B) Walking under a ladder will cause bad luck.
2. Observability: The event under study, or evidence of the occurrence of the event, can be observed and explained. The observations are limited to the basic human senses or to extensions of the senses by such things as electron microscopes, Geiger counters, etc. If the phenomenon cannot be reproduced through controlled conditions, natural evidence of the event's occurrence must be available for investigation.
REALITY CHECK #2: which of the following is a scientific statement, and which one is not
a scientific statement?
- A)Some plants eat meat.
- B) Extraterrestrial beings have visited Earth.
3. Natural: A natural cause (mechanism) must be used to explain why or how the naturally occurring event happens. Scientists may not use supernatural explanations as to why or how naturally occurring events happen because reference to the supernatural is outside of the realm of science. Scientists cannot conduct controlled experiments in which they have designed the intervention of a supreme being into the test.
REALITY CHECK #3: Using the idea of "Natural", how can we determine which statement below is a scientific one?
- A) Green plants convert sunlight into energy.
- B) With a rod, Moses parted the sea so his people could cross to the other side..
4. Predictability: The natural cause (mechanism) of the naturally occurring event can be used to make specific predictions. Each prediction can be tested to determine if the prediction is true of false.
REALITY CHECK #4: Using the idea of "Predictability", how can we determine which statement below is a scientific one?
- A) Without sunlight (or comparable artificial light), green plants will die.
- B) If you are a "Scorpio", your horoscope for today is "You'll be saying 'I feel rich !' Lunar position highlights back pay, refunds, correction of accounting error."
5. Testability: The natural cause (mechanism) of the naturally occurring event must be testable through the processes of science, controlled experimentation being essential. Reference to supernatural events or causes are not relevant tests.
REALITY CHECK #5: Using the idea of "Testability", how can we determine which statement below is a scientific one?
- A) The Bermuda Triangle causes ships and planes to sink and disappear.
- B) Life comes from life and cannot come from non-life.
6. Tentativeness: Scientific theories are subject to revision and correction, even to the point of the theory being proven wrong. Scientific theories have been modified and will continue to be modified to consistently explain observations of naturally occurring events.
REALITY CHECK #6: which of the following is a scientific statement, and which one is not
a scientific statement?
- A) The number of human chromosomes was once "known" to be 48, but is now considered to be 46.
- B) Living things were once grouped into 2 major groups, then 3, then 4, and now 5, because the criteria used for classifying living things have changed.
- C) We know that the world began about 6000 years ago, and nothing will change that.
- D) At one time, it was thought the heart pumped blood out of a large container as an "open system", but now it is known that blood "circulates" in a closed system.
What is Non-Science?
Non-science may be defined as an area of knowledge which does not meet the criteria of science (CONPTT). Non-science topic areas may be very logical and based on good reasoning, but simply do not fall within the realm of science. They would include any belief system, e.g., religious beliefs, philosophy, personal opinions or attitudes, a sense of esthetics, or ethics.
What is a Pseudo-science
False science ("pseudoscience") may be defined as a non-science which is portrayed and advertised as a legitimate science by its followers and supporters. Good examples of a pseudoscience would include "astrology" (as presented by some of its supporters), and "creation science". (See Strahler, page 525).
Essential Question: What role does science play in he study of life?
- Lecture: The Nature of Science
- Power Notes: SC.912.N.1.1 – Scientific Thinking
- Additional Readings: The Core of Science (here) and What Science is NOT (here)
- Lecture: Spontaneous Generation: Notes & Animation
- Activity: Linear Regression with Biological Data
Resource: Lab Report Format and Rubric (Step by step guide of how to write a correct lab report)
Are you having trouble writing your conclusions?*
*See a script here
What is biology?
- Lecture: Characteristics of Life
- Observation vs. Inference: Tutorial & Practice Examples
Research careers in field of biology, and write a summary of one that you would be interested in pursuing.
Complete this assignment in a one copy paper including the following areas:
- Proper Assignment header
- Field of science or Biology: What are some fields of science or biology you researched that interest you?
- Job Title: Within that field, what jobs are available? What would be the correct job tile of an individual performing such job?
- Job Description: What activities, research or tasks would the individual perform on a daily basis, while on the job?
- Degree/ Education/ Skills & Attitudes: What schooling is needed as well as what skills or personal traits are important or sought-after for the individual to perform, or excel at his/her job?
- What skills, attitudes or interests do you have that would make it possible for you to succeed in this career?
- Base Salary you could expect to earn
Standard N.1.4 Students should be able to:
- Identify sources of information and assess their reliability according to the strict standards of scientific investigation. (Reference #:
Standard N.1.6 Students should be able to:
- Describe how scientific inferences are drawn from scientific observations and provide examples from the content being studied.
Standard N.2.1 Students should be able to:
- Identify what is science, what clearly is not science, and what superficially resembles science (but fails to meet the criteria for science).
Standard N.2.2 Students should be able to:
- Identify which questions can be answered through science and which questions are outside the boundaries of scientific investigation, such as questions addressed by other ways of knowing, such as art, philosophy, and religion.
Standard N.3.1 Students should be able to:
- explain that a scientific theory is the culmination of many scientific investigations drawing together all the current evidence concerning a substantial range of phenomena thus, a scientific theory represents the most powerful explanation scientists have to offer.
Standard N.3.4 Students should be able to recognize that:
- theories do not become laws, nor do laws become theories;
- theories are well supported explanations and laws are well supported descriptions.