1.2 SCIENCE IN CONTEXT

Exploration and discovery:Where ideas come from

Scientific methodology is the heart of science.

The full body of science includes more, as shown:

The Process of Science

Scientific Attitudes

Good scientists share scientific attitudes that lead them to exploration and discovery…

….curiosity

…ask questions about what is observed. Results from previous studies are also reviewed and raise new questions

…skepticism

..scientists question existing ideas and hypotheses. They also do not believe in ideas without evidence

…open mindedness

…scientists must be willing to accept new ideas that they may not agree with

…creativity

Scientists need to the creatively to design experiments that provide good data.

The Process of Science

The Role of Technology

Technology, science and society are closely linked.

Discoveries in Science may lead to new technologies

Those technologies may enable scientists to ask new questions, or gather data in a new way

Communicating Results: Reviewing and Sharing Ideas

Peer Review: Research and papers are reviewed by other scientists Reviewers look for mistakes or other problems Work may be published in scientific journals

Sharing Knowledge and new Ideas: Sometimes findings lead to new questions; This means new hypotheses and new

controlled experiments

Scientific Theory

Theory: Is a well-tested explanation that accounts for a lot of observations and hypotheses.

It allows scientists to make good predictions Ex: Darwin: Theory of evolution

NO THEORY IS THOUGHT TO BE THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH

A theory may be changed or replaced

Theory vs. Bias

Theory:

Bias: A preference or a point of view that is personal, rather than scientific