Scientific Processes & Terms

Unit 1: Scientific Processes Geophysical Science

Steinbrink

What is Science?

Science is the knowledge obtained by observing natural events and conditions in order to discover facts and formulate laws or principles that can be verified or tested.

Branches of Science

!   Chemistry !   Physics !   Biology !   Astronomy !   Oceanography !   Meteorology !   Zoology !   Geology

What is Pseudoscience?

!  Research that has the appearance of science but does not follow the scientific method, usually lacking peer review and repetition of observations by independent researchers.

Examples of Pseudoscience

!  Big Foot !  Loch Ness Monster !  UFO’s !  Psychic Phenomena !  Astrology

Scientific Law

!  A summary of many experimental results and observations; a law tells how things work

Scientific Theory

!  An explanation for some phenomenon that is based on observation, experimentation, and reasoning.

Hypothesis

!  An educated guess that helps to guide the research or experiment study.

!  Possible explanation for a set of observations or possible answer to a scientific question

!  If_________ then ________ statement.

Variables

!  A factor that changes in an experiment in order to test a hypothesis.

!  How many variables should you test during an experiment?

!  Just one variable at a time!

Independent Variable

!  What you choose to measure in an experiment.

!  Often times this will be time units. !  Graphed on the x-axis

Dependent Variable

!  Value depends on what happens in the experiment.

!  Result of the independent variable. !  Graphed on the y-axis.

Observation

!  The act of making and recording information by using your senses. – Sight – Hearing – Touch – Smell – Taste

Inference

!  Interpreting an observation or statement based on prior knowledge.

!  An inference is an act of reasoning, not a fact.

Observation vs. Inference

Sample Observations Sample Inferences

The footprints in the soil each have five toes.

An animal made the footprints.

The larger footprints are about 20 cm long.

A bear made the footprint.

The space between each pair of footprints is about 30 cm.

The animal was walking not running.

Qualitative Data

!  Deals with descriptions. !  Data can be observed but not

measured. !  Colors, textures, smells, tastes,

appearance, beauty, etc. !  Qualitative → Quality

Quantitative Data

!  Deals with numbers. !  Data which can be measured. !  Length, height, area, volume, weight,

speed, time, temperature, humidity, sound levels, cost, members, ages, etc.

!  Quantitative → Quantity !  THINK NUMBERS