The Nature

of Science
Chapter 2
 Understanding Science
Science is restricted to natural
causes for natural phenomena Natural
Pseudosciences imitate science,
but do not provide science-based
explanations.

 Empirical Evidence - Consists of a collected bodyNot

of Natural
data
from observations and experiments

must be repeatable

must be (shared)

Must be testable
 Science as Inquiry
 What is the Nature of Science?

Scientific study of what makes science,
science!

Science is a way to answer questions about
the natural world.
 Data
 Quantitative - observations recorded as
measurements

Ex: 20 cm, 10 C, 86kg

(always use metric system: SI units)
 Qualitative - descriptions instead of
measurements

Ex:
• the fur is brown
• the wolves howled at the chimpanzee
• the chimpanzee smelled like bananas
 Inquiry
 Inquiry
– people asking questions about
what they observe in nature

The heart of science

Look to find answers (Investigate)
• Observing
• Collecting data

 Typeof Discovery Science - describes

observations

Example: Jane Goodall’s research on chimpanzees
 What are types of data?
 Quantitative – observations recorded and
numbered

 Qualitative
- descriptions instead of
measurements.
 Quantitative or Qualitative?
 The tea was 99 degrees C
 the chimpanzee smelled like bananas
 The rocks weigh 63 kilograms
 I saw 2 cats
 There were green and red spots on the flowers
 The birds were at the feeder 4 times a week
 Turn and talk
 Look at the
graphic, tell your
partner 2 types of
quantitative data
you could collect

 Tellyour partner
2 pieces of
qualitative data
you could collect
 BELLWORK
 Need @ desk: pencil, ISN, and “Nature of
Science” notes worksheet
 Put backpacks and lunch boxes on
shelves- bring water bottle to desk if
needed.
 On page 7 of your ISN, write your answer
to the following question in a complete
sentence… HALFWAY down the page!
 Question: “What is the difference between
QUANTITATIVE and QUALITATIVE data?”
 Hypothesis Based Science

What is a hypothesis?

A suggested answer to a well-defined
scientific question (Claim)

Based on past experiments and knowledge
 Tobe valid, a Hypotheses - Must be
testable
Hypothesis is accepted or rejected based on
Evidence
 The Scientific Method
 Observations lead to a question (inquiry)
 Hypothesis - suggested answer to a well-
defined scientific question

allows you to make predictions

Always written in an “if…then…because”
format

this suggests the experimental design
 Testing the Hypothesis
 Ifyou want to test the effect of one
condition, you need to provide a
contrasting condition. A condition that can
differ in an experiment is called a
VARIABLE.
 An experiment that tests the effect of a
single variable is called a CONTROLLED
EXPERIMENT
 Is it a Good Hypothesis?
 IfI play happy music for my plants, then
they will grow taller because plants
respond well to positivity. GOOD
 If I play happy music for my plants, then
they will grow better. BAD
 When I play happy music for my plants
they grow taller. BAD
 If I play sad music for my plants, then they
will grow slower and shorter because
plants respond poorly to negativity. GOOD
 Experimental Design
 Independent variable—only one factor in a
controlled experiment can change at a time.
(being manipulated)

Think “I am the scientist. I change the variable that
starts with ‘I’”
 Dependent variable—results from or depends on
changes to the independent variable. (being
measured)
 Constant Variable—remains the same
throughout the experiment, ensuring only one
variable is tested.

This is also referred to as the “control variable”
Is it a good or bad experimental
design?
 You want to know how plants know to grow  You want to know how plants know to grow
toward their light source. You decide to test toward their light source. You decide to test
this by… this by…

Using all potted plants, the type 
Using the same plant species in each
doesn’t matter trial

Using the same soil for each plant 
Using the same potting soil for each

Watering each plant slightly different plant
amounts 
Watering the plants equally

Exposing each plant to a different light 
Exposing each plant to one light
source and source

Changing the length of light exposure 
Keeping the length of time of light
for each plant exposure constant

Changing the location of the light
source for two of the three plants

BAD GOOD
Is it a good or bad experimental
design?
 You want to know if plants respond well to  You want to know if plants respond well to
positivity. You decide to test this by… positivity. You decide to test this by…

Using the same plant species in each 
Using all potted plants of different
trial in the same type of pot species

Using the same potting soil for each 
Using the same potting soil for each
plant plant

Watering the plants equally 
Watering each plant slightly different

Exposing one plant to happy music, amounts
one plant to sad music, and one plant 
Exposing each plant to both happy and
to no music sad music

Playing music for two of the three 
Playing music for all three plants for
plants, for two hours each day for three two hours each day for three weeks
weeks and and

Keeping each plant in the same 
Changing the location of each plant
location with equal exposure to one with equal exposure to different
light source then sources of light

Measuring the height of each plant
after three weeks

GREAT BAD
 Can you Identify the Variables?
 You want to know if plants respond well to  Independent Variable (IV):
positivity. You decide to test this by… 
Type of music

Using the same plant species in each
trial, in the same type of pot  Dependent Variable (DV):

Using the same potting soil for each 
Height of plant
plant

Watering the plants equally  Constant or Controlled Variable (CV):

Exposing one plant to happy music, 
Type of plant species
one plant to sad music, and one plant
to no music

Type of pot

Playing music for two of the three

Type of potting soil
plants, for two hours each day for three 
Amount of water
weeks and 
Amount of time music is played

Keeping each plant in the same 
Location of each plant
location with equal exposure to one 
Light source
light source then

Measuring the height of each plant
after three weeks
 Forming a Conclusion
 Datamust be recorded, organized,
and analyzed

Quantitative data is usually put in a table
or graph
 Theconclusion must address the
hypothesis

Hypothesis (claim) will be supported or
not supported based on the evidence
 Theories vs. Laws in
Science
Theory- Well tested explanation of
observations
 make sense of a great variety of observations
(broad)
 explains patterns
 can be modified or discarded

Ex: The Cell Theory
• all living things are made of cells
• cells are the units of structure and function in living things
• all cells come from other cells
 Scientific Theory v. Scientific Law
 A scientificlaw describes relationships
under certain conditions in nature but does
not explain why the relationship is the way
it is.
 Ex: law of superposition, Law of Gravity

 THEORIES NEVER BECOME LAWS!

 Models in Science
 Not exact replicas
 explanations or representations of thigs
that are too small/large/complex to study
directly
 can be:

physical (3-D)

mental

mathematical

analogies

flow charts

computer programs, etc.
 Technology
 Goalof Technology - Apply science
by using understanding for a specific
purpose- “inventions”

Examples:
• artificial heart valves
• genetic engineering
 Who Cares? Why do we have
to learn this?
 A person who is scientifically literate is
able to combine a basic understanding of
science and its processes with reasoning
and thinking skills.
 Ethical issues must be addressed by
society based on the values it holds
important.
 The Scientific Method can be used to solve any problem,
even to find a date for Friday Night!
Here’s how to do it:

 Step 1: State the problem – “I need a date for Friday night.”

 Step 2: Research the problem – What will it take to solve my
problem? What do I know, and need to know, about my problem?
Who can I take?
• Examine the possibilities, Eliminate poor choices, Consider
likely choices.
 Step 3: Form a hypothesis – A possible solution to my problem,
If/Then/Because statement. “If I ask (Name) out then they will say
yes and then I will have a date for Friday night because (reason why
you predict this).”
 Step 4: Test the hypothesis – Perform an experiment to see if your
hypothesis works. “Ask (Name) for a date Friday Night.”
 Step 5: Draw Conclusions from the data. If your hypothesis was
correct, you now have a date for Friday. If your hypothesis was
incorrect, the experiment failed. DON’T GIVE UP! Do more
research, continue this process until the problem is solved.
 Tues: homework
 Chickens and beri beri
 Wednesday homework
 Usegraphics and info to find the claim,
evidence and reasoning
 Homework
 1. What about the skeleton in the
photo reminds you of a living
thing? What about the skeleton
reminds you of a nonliving thing?
 2. What might studying this
skeleton help you to learn about
living things?
 3. What might be some benefits of
studying living things?
 The Characteristics of Life

1. Made of one or more cells

2. Displays organization
3. Grows and develops
4. Reproduces
5. Responds to stimuli
6. Requires energy
7. Maintains homeostasis
8. Adaptations evolve over time