Nature of

Science and The

Scientific Method
Ms Clark
PVMHS

What is Nature of
Science?
Science is about understanding how nature and the

physical world work.

It is the union of science, mathematics, and
technology that forms the scientific endeavor.
Science assumes that the things and events in the
universe occur in consistent patterns that can be
understood through careful, systematic study
Science assumes that the universe is, a vast single
system in which the basic rules are the same
everywhere.
Science is a process for producing knowledge.
Scientists accept some uncertainty as part of nature,
theories may change but most scientific knowledge is
durable.

6 tenets of NOS
1. Scientific knowledge is durable but tentative
2. Scientific activity requires both being logical &
systematic as well as creative& imaginative
3. Science can be subjective and biased because
of social, historical, and cultural influences
4. Science and its methods cannot answer all
questions
5. There is no such thing as a single scientific
method
6. Scientific knowledge is a product of both
observation and inference

Bias
Bias is a personal judgment based on past
experiences or personal beliefs
Objective: not influenced by prejudices,
opinion, feelings or interests
Unbiased
Subjective: influenced by prejudices,
opinion, feelings or interests
Biased

The Scientific Method

i.e. the scientific process generalized
Make an observation
Ask a question
Gather information
Form an hypothesis
Conduct an experiment
Collect, record, and analyze data
Draw a conclusion
Report results & retest

Observations
Are gathered through your senses

Types of observations:
Quantitative: numbers
Ex: 5 rabbits
Qualitative: descriptions
Ex: The rabbits have long ears

Ask a question
After making an observation,
question what caused the effect.
Can also be something another
researcher did that left you with
Whats
questions.
wrong
with my
plant?

Write a hypothesis
A hypothesis must be testable and predict an
outcome.
Formulate your hypothesis and write it down.
A hypothesis is an educated guess
Then make a prediction based your hypothesis
using an if.., then..

This becomes your hypothesis statement.

Example:
Hypothesis I think watering my plant will cause
it to perk up.
Hypothesis statement If my plant receives
water, then it will perk up.

Test your hypothesis

Design an experiment that will test
whether your hypothesis is correct
or not.
A good experiment will only test
one variable at a time this is
known as a controlled experiment.
Variable The factor that is being
measured in the experiment.

The Control
A control is what we keep the
same so it will not effect the
outcome.
A control is not tested.
Controls are used for comparison
and allow us to accept or reject a
hypothesis.

Variables
independent variable: what you
change.
dependent variable: what you
observe.
control: what you keep the same

Lets practice.
Suppose you want to figure out if
watering your plant will cause it to
perk up and look healthy again.
You will give it water, but keep all
other conditions the same (sun,
room temp, fertilizer, humidity, etc.).
You will then make more
observations to confirm/reject your
hypothesis.

What are the Variables in Your

Experiment?
Independent variable: What you
change
The water
Dependent variable: What is being
measured
Turgidity of the stem
Control Variable: What stays the same
Amount of sun, room, temp, humidity,
etc.

Data Collection
After setting up & running your
experiment, you collect data.
What is data? The dependent
variable vs. the independent variable.
Researchers collect data from several
trials for validity.
Minimum of 3 per independent
variable

Analyze Data
Examine the data for trends.
Create graphs or charts to show
data easily.
Accept or reject hypothesis based
on the data.
Next: Collaborate with peers,
rethink experiment and
hypothesis

Draw Conclusions
Accept or reject hypothesis
Rethink experiment and hypothesis

Any questions?