Scientific Way of Knowing or the Scientific Method

1
Scientific Way of Knowing or the Scientific
Method

• The scientific way is to ask questions and search
  for answers.
• Is the scientific way the only way to seek valid
  answers to important questions?

2
The Scientific World-View assumptions that are
the basis of the scientific way of knowing.

• Taken from Science for All Americans by Project
  2061 of American Association for the Advancement
  of Science, 1990.
• The world is understandable.
• Scientific ideas are subject to change.
• Most scientific knowledge is durable.
• Science cannot provide complete answers to all
  questions.

3
Process of Scientific Inquiry

• Science demands evidence that can be evaluated.
• Science is an agreed upon logic.
• Science explains and predicts.
• Scientists try to avoid bias.
• Science is not authoritarian. (Science does not
  unconditionally accept any statement just because
  some authority figure says so.)

4
The Steps of the Scientific Method

• Identify the question
• Make an educated guess -- a
  hypothesis
• Perform experiments or gather observations to
  test the hypothesis
• Interpretations and conclusion -- did your
  results support or refute your hypothesis?
• Which one of the above steps is the least
  objective -- the step in which different people
  are most likely to say something different?

5
A Scientific Hypothesis Must Be Falsifiable

• Falsifiable You can do or imagine an experiment
  that could prove the hypothesis wrong.

6
Are the 2 hypotheses below falsifiable?

• Intelligent life exists somewhere in the universe
  in addition to here on Earth.
• Cars with diesel engines can drive more miles
  per gallon than cars with gasoline engines.

7
If your data do not support your hypothesis, you
must modify or discard it and try again.
Data results
8
Performing the experiment measurements and
observations
What is an observation?
9
Observation something you perceive through any
one or more of your 5 senses.Can you name all 5?
10
A measurement is also an observation.

• Is the following observation a measurement?
• The ball is red.

11
Measurement a quantitative description of a
physical property referenced to a standard.
12
Desirable Characteristics of a Reference Standard

• Many people agree to use this standard.
• The standard has a constant value.
• The standard is easy to reproduce.
• The standard is practical.

13
Science and Religion

• Can they co-exist?
• Some dont think so!