THE NATURE
OF
SCIENCE
Today’s learning objectives:
• Identify the characteristics of the nature of
science.
• Explain how facts, hypotheses, and theories are
related and be able to apply the terms.
• Explain the difference between how the term
“theory” is used in science and in everyday life.
• Describe why a hypothesis cannot be proven true
and be able to apply that principle when drawing
conclusions about data.
• Evaluate whether a hypothesis is testable.
• Build models to describe biological phenomena
Biology
bio = life; ology = science
Today’s question: what is science?
What is science?
Think by yourself – 1 min
Discuss with a neighbor– 2 min
Share with class – 3 people
Science is both a body of knowledge
and a process.
https://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/scienceflowchart
Science is both a body of knowledge
and a process.
A method for describing and explaining the natural
world that uses evidence to construct testable
explanations and predictions of natural phenomena.
We also use the word “science” to refer to the body of
knowledge generated through this process
There are many claims we can make about the world.
What types of claims can we investigate using the
practices of science?
Class Activity:
Think about whether you could investigate each claim below
using the practices of science.
1.
2.
3.
4.
A sudden drop in temperature indicates the presence of a ghost.
Green plants grow towards a light source
Sponges filter bacteria out of the water on coral reefs.
Pele, the goddess of fire, inflicts a curse on those who remove
lava rock from the Hawaiian Islands.
Think by yourself – 1 min
Discuss with a neighbor– 2 min
Share with class – 3 people
Class Activity:
1.
2.
3.
4.
A sudden drop in temperature indicates the presence of a ghost.
Green plants grow towards a light source
Sponges filter bacteria out of the water on coral reefs.
Pele, the goddess of fire, inflicts a curse on those who remove
lava rock from the Hawaiian Islands.
How did you decide whether the claim could
be investigated through science?
If a claim can not be investigated through the
practices of science, does that mean that the
claim is false?
There are many ways to explain phenomena…
scientific explanations
historical explanations
political explanations
religious explanations,
economic explanations,
philosophical explanations,
etc.
In this class, we will be exploring and constructing
scientific explanations which are supported by scientific
evidence and scientific reasoning.
What types of claims can we use the practices of
science to explore?
Criteria
Observable
Explanation
The event, or evidence of the event, can be observed
by human senses
Natural
The event can be explained by a natural mechanism
(as opposed to supernatural)
Predictable
The natural explanation can be used to make specific
predictions.
Testable
The explanation can be tested.
Consistent
Results of repeated observations/experiments are the
same
Class Activity:
1.
2.
3.
4.
A sudden drop in temperature indicates the presence of a ghost.
Green plants grow towards a light source
Sponges filter bacteria out of the water on coral reefs.
Pele, the goddess of fire, inflicts a curse on those who remove
lava rock from the Hawaiian Islands.
Observable, Natural,
Predictable, Testable, Consistent
How do we use the practices of
science to make scientific claims?
Make
conclusions
You may have learned some steps like these in your
previous science classes
(i.e. “The Scientific Method”)
How do we use the practices of
science to make scientific claims?
Make
conclusions
You may have learned some steps like these in your
previous science classes
(i.e. “The Scientific Method”)
How do we use the practices of
science to make scientific claims?
Science not a simple linear process
Science is both a body of knowledge
and a process.
https://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/scienceflowchart
1. Asking questions
2. Planning and carrying out
investigations
3. Analyzing and interpreting data
Practices
of Science
4. Developing and using models as tools
to represent ideas and explanations
(e.g. diagrams, drawings, computer
simulations, mathematical
representations)
5. Using mathematical and
computational thinking
6. Constructing explanations
7. Arguing from evidence
8. Evaluating information
The Nature of Science
• Science is ongoing
• Science focuses on the natural world
• Science is amoral (not immoral)
• Science is a social endeavor
Testing Scientific Ideas is at the heart
of science
Understanding Science: How science really works (learn more at: http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/intro_01)
Science is about testing ideas about the
natural world.
A hypothesis must be falsifiable or testable in
order to be a scientific hypothesis.
National Academies of Science
definitions
Hypothesis: a tentative statement about the
natural world leading to predictions that can be
tested
– If predictions are verified, the hypothesis is
provisionally corroborated
– If predictions are incorrect, the original hypothesis
is false and must be abandoned or modified
“Ghosts exist but
cannot be
detected because
they have supernatural powers.”
Is this a scientific
hypothesis? Why
or why not?
Science is ongoing.
• Science can never “prove” anything because
future observations could refute an idea
• But some hypotheses have been supported so
many times, with so many different lines of
evidence, AND with no evidence refuting them,
that we accept them as true explanations of the
natural world
We call these “theories”
Examples include: cell theory, gravitational theory,
evolutionary theory
National
Academies
of Science
definitions
Fact: an observation that has been
repeatedly confirmed, and for all practical
purposes, is accepted as “true”
Theory: a well-substantiated explanation of
some aspect of the natural world that can
incorporate facts, laws, inferences, and
tested hypotheses
– Theories can explain facts. Interlocking
and well-supported explanations for
facts are theories
Note that this is very different from how we use the word
theory in everyday language
Using these definitions, how would you
respond to the text of this meme:
“Gravity: just a theory”
Think by yourself
Discuss with a neighbor
Discuss with class
THE Scientific Method is a myth – there are many
appropriate methods of scientific investigation
Descriptive or systematic
investigation
Describe the movement
of planets, moons, and
stars in relation to one
another
Natural experiment
How do communities and ecosystems
differ on islands in a chain with
varying properties?
Manipulated controlled
experiment
Treatment vs.
Placebo
Does EmergenC
reduce the duration
of the common
cold?
HOW YOUR SLEEPING
POSITION CAN AFFECT
YOUR DREAMS
Are you convinced?
Are you uneasy?
What are you wondering
about?
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
HOW YOUR SLEEPING POSITION
CAN AFFECT YOUR DREAMS
Is the claim in the article supported by the data?
Are you convinced? Are you uneasy?
What are you wondering about?
Apply the criteria and practices we just discussed!
As a group, discuss and respond to the questions:
1. What claim(s) did the researchers make in the article?
2. Is this claim supported by the information in the article?
Why or why not?
3. What are you wondering about this claim and this study?
HOW YOUR SLEEPING POSITION CAN AFFECT YOUR DREAMS
What are you wondering about?
Some concerns:
o The sample size was small (n=63)
o The sample had more males (n=45) than females (n=18)
o The sample had more right-sided sleepers (n=41) than left-sided (n=22)
o Results misleading
o 40% of left-side had bad dreams (9 of 22 people!)
o 15% of right sided had bad dreams (6 of 41 people!)
o “Sided-ness” was based on self-reporting – is that reliable?
o Nightmare frequency was based on self-reporting – is that reliable?
What else might have affected sleep? (e.g., diet, exercise, stress)
The claim: a conclusion, explanation, model,
or other answer to a research question
Components
of a Biological
Argument
The evidence: data you have collected or
findings from other studies that have been
analyzed and interpreted in a way that allows
you to make a claim
The reasoning: statements that explain both
the statistical and biological importance of the
evidence by:
making explicit the statistical concepts
and/or assumptions you used to work with
the data
making explicit the biological concepts
and/or assumptions you underlying the
collection and interpretation of the evidence
Tools of Science
DATA
e.g., genome sequences
from viruses
e.g., viruses are
organisms because they
can be classified and
distinguished genetically
ARGUMENTS
MODELS
e.g., definition of
an organism
e.g., talking about our ideas
for sorting into categories,
working with each other to
test and improve our thinking
COLLABORATION
Models are an important tool of science that
we will work with extensively this semester
Ways
that
drawing
can
promote
learning
• Interpreting visual information
• Reveal misconceptions
• Communicate mental models
• Build and strengthen mental
models
• Enhance model-based reasoning
• Enhanced metacognition
(knowing what you know and
what you don’t know)
• Drawing is a skill that is part of
the scientific process
Drawing a physical model helps you
create and organize a mental model
We will be drawing often to help us learn
concepts and connect ideas throughout this
semester
Drawing a physical model helps you create and
organize a mental model
We will be drawing often to help us learn
concepts and connect ideas throughout this
semester
But, I can’t
draw!
Concept maps are a model that is very
useful for making sense of connections
among concepts and studying
Examples of concept maps
Draw a Concept Map
Draw a concept map that
illustrates how facts, hypotheses,
and theories are related.
By yourself – 3 min
Discuss with neighbor & revise
your map – 5 min
Share examples with class – 3 min
Turn in concept map for class
participation points- Remember
to include your name
Today’s learning objectives:
• Identify the characteristics of the nature of
science.
• Explain how facts, hypotheses, and theories are
related and be able to apply the terms.
• Explain the difference between how the term
“theory” is used in science and in everyday life.
• Describe why a hypothesis cannot be proven true
and be able to apply that principle when drawing
conclusions about data.
• Evaluate whether a hypothesis is testable.
• Build models to describe biological phenomena
For Next Class….
Pre-Class Assignments
• Chapter 1- Due Monday Sept.
11th Nature of Science- Codon
learning
Points are for effortful completion, not correctness.
Post- Class Assignments
• Carefully read Syllabus
• Review course schedule
• Complete “Get to know you
survey”- Brightspace- Due 9/11
• Scientists Spotlight #1- posted
on Brightspace- Due Wed. Sept.
13th
Monday: We will analyze data from
studies about how to learn effectively
We will practice analyzing data figures to
understand scientific phenomena