Nature of science

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Nature of science

• Class Notes
• Aug28-Sept.4/08

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• Observation
• Uses all senses
• Provides information
• Must be detailed
• Two types
• Qualitative Describes characteristics
• Quantitative Presents numerical information.
  Observations that can be measured
• Observation prior knowledge Inference
• Inference is a guess based on observations and
  things you already know.

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• Hypothesis
• Statement
• Objective NOT opinion
• Based on general observations
• Needs to be proven by testing
• Includes variables (independent and dependent)
• Proposes a reason

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• Variable
• Things that can change during the experiment or
  may change the outcome
• Three types of variables
• Manipulated or independent manipulated or
  changed in order to prove the hypothesis. Tested
  variable.
• Responding or dependent variable that changes as
  a result of the manipulated variable, usually
  used to measure results of testing
• Controlled or contrast variables that are kept
  constant in order to avoid mistakes in the
  experiment.

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• Data
• Evidence collected
• Recorded observations
• Facts/figures
• Can be presented as
• Descriptive paragraphs
• Graphs, charts, tables,
• Diagrams, pictures and drawings
• When recording quantitative information always
  use the metric system of units which is the
  international system of measurement.

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• Conclusion
• Statement
• Objective NOT opinion
• Based on observations collected and analysis of
  data from the experiment
• Proves the hypothesis correct or incorrect
• Includes variables (independent and dependent)
• Includes a small justification