THE
NATURE
OF
SCIENCE
SCIENTIFIC
PROBLEM SOLVING
THE NATURE OF
SCIENCE
• Science is a process used to
investigate the world around you,
providing some possible answers.
Science is the system of acquiring
knowledge based on
experimentation and research.
THE NATURE OF
SCIENCE
• People use science to find the answers to
questions.
• Scientists are curious about the unknown.
• Explorers are scientists because…..
• Scientific exploration can never been
limited to one race, sex, culture or time
period.
• Scientists use an organized method and
technology to do their work.
THE NATURE OF
SCIENCE
What are some things that scientists
do while searching for new
information and solving problems?
THE NATURE OF
SCIENCE
Scientists use the scientific method.
A scientific method is an approach taken to
try to solve a problem.
STEPS
1. Recognize the problem.
2. Form a hypothesis.
3. Plan and design the experiment.
4. Observe and record.
5. Analyze data.
6. Draw conclusions.
THE NATURE OF
SCIENCE
Recognize the Problem
The first step begins asking a question,
recognizing the problem.
Once you know what you want to
study, then choose the methods that
will help you find the answers.
THE NATURE OF
SCIENCE
Hypothesis
A hypothesis is a prediction that can
be tested. A hypothesis might be
established based on observations,
from personal experience or from
new information gathered during
other experiments.
THE NATURE OF
SCIENCE
Testing the hypothesis
In order to form the conclusions from
the results of the experimentation,
the person needs a control , a
standard to compare the results.
THE NATURE OF
SCIENCE
Controlled Experiments
A controlled experiment test the
hypothesis using a control and
changing only one factor called
variable.
The variable that is changed is the
independent variable.
The variable that is observed and
measured is dependent variable.
THE NATURE OF
SCIENCE
Plan the Experiment
Once you have the control and identify
the variables, you must recognize
the constant in the experiment.
Constants usually are variables that
stay the same.
Ex: same room temperature.
THE NATURE OF
SCIENCE
Determining the materials
This is an important part of planning an
experiment, Gather the complete list
of materials that you need if you
want to conduct a successful
experiment.
Finding incomplete materials can affect
the development of the experiment.
THE NATURE OF
SCIENCE
•
•
•
•
•
•
Do the Experiment
Observing and recording data.
Measuring and writing numbers.
Writing the journal or daily log.
Writing accurate measurements.
Doing 3, 4, 5 or more trials.
Organizing data tables.
THE NATURE OF
SCIENCE
Analyzing Data
Once a set of data has been collected
and organized, it can be analyzed to
see if supports the hypothesis. Data
can be represented is a graph.
A graph is a diagram that shows the
relationship of one variable to
another.
THE NATURE OF
SCIENCE
Draw Conclusions
A conclusion is a statement based on
the results of the experiment. The
conclusion might or might not
support the hypothesis.
THE NATURE OF
SCIENCE
THEORY is an explanation backed by
the results obtained from repeated
tests or experiments.
Not all results lead to the formation of
a theory.
LAW is a well-tested description of
how something in nature works.
THE NATURE OF
SCIENCE
Vocabulary
Find the meaning of the following words:
• Science
• Scientific method
• Hypothesis
• Theory
• Law
• Control
• Independent variable
• Dependent variable
• Constant
• Graph
• Technology
• Sequence
• Inference