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Questions and Answers
What was the conclusion drawn from the statistical analysis on the difference between the groups?
What was the conclusion drawn from the statistical analysis on the difference between the groups?
What is a characteristic of a scientific theory?
What is a characteristic of a scientific theory?
What is the purpose of peer review in the scientific method?
What is the purpose of peer review in the scientific method?
What is the main problem that bias can cause in scientific research?
What is the main problem that bias can cause in scientific research?
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What is a key difference between a scientific theory and a colloquial theory?
What is a key difference between a scientific theory and a colloquial theory?
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What is the purpose of repetition in the scientific method?
What is the purpose of repetition in the scientific method?
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What happens when a hypothesis is supported by a significant amount of peer-reviewed experiments?
What happens when a hypothesis is supported by a significant amount of peer-reviewed experiments?
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What is a potential consequence of allowing personal beliefs to filter data in scientific research?
What is a potential consequence of allowing personal beliefs to filter data in scientific research?
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What is an example of how bias can damage the credibility of an experiment's results?
What is an example of how bias can damage the credibility of an experiment's results?
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Why is it important for scientists to keep their minds open to other possibilities?
Why is it important for scientists to keep their minds open to other possibilities?
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Study Notes
The Scientific Method
- The scientific method is a procedure used to provide scientific explanations for questions about the world.
- It outlines the way a scientist can perform an experiment to collect empirical data, which can be used to answer a question.
Key Terms
- Question: a problem the scientist is looking to solve
- Background: information that is already available from other experiments that can help inform the scientist about the topic
- Hypothesis: a proposed explanation that can be empirically tested
- Experiment: a scientific test that provides empirical data for a specific hypothesis
- Empirical Data: information that is verifiable by observation and/or experience
- Conclusion: an answer to the research question as suggested by the data, which may support or reject the hypothesis
History of the Scientific Method
- The scientific method has evolved and changed over the years.
- Sir Francis Bacon is credited with its first documentation in 1620.
- Other notable contributors to the development of the scientific method include Aristotle, Galileo, Ibn al-Haytham, and Isaac Newton.
Variations in Different Disciplines
- The scientific method steps follow the same general pattern, but there is some variation between the methods used in different disciplines, such as psychology, physics, and geology.
- Each discipline may require different methods and tools to study their specific topic.
The Six Steps of the Scientific Method
- Ask a Question: make an observation and ask a question about it
- Conduct Background Research: research existing knowledge about the topic
- Formulate a Hypothesis: propose an explanation that can be empirically tested
- Design and Conduct an Experiment: test the hypothesis using empirical data
- Analyze the Data: determine if the data supports or rejects the hypothesis
- Draw a Conclusion: answer the research question based on the data
Scientific Method Steps in Order
- The scientific method has an order, but it often gets modified and re-worked along the way.
Example of the Scientific Method
- Dwayne's internet is not working: a simple example of the scientific method in everyday life
- Is Alzheimer's Disease caused by daily coffee consumption?: an example of the scientific method in a scientific study
The Formation of a Scientific Theory
- Hypotheses are rarely proven in science; instead, they are supported or rejected through experimentation.
- Once a hypothesis has been supported by a significant amount of peer-reviewed experiments, it can become a theory.
- A scientific theory is a well-supported explanation for the natural world that brings together facts and hypotheses.
Scientific Method: Beliefs and Biases
- Bias can become a problem when scientists allow their beliefs to filter their data.
- The scientific method is designed to avoid bias, but it is not perfect.
- Biases can impact the way data is interpreted and lead to inaccurate results.
- Peer review and repeat testing are used to flag and correct errors caused by bias.
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Description
Understand the procedure used to provide scientific explanations, including planning experiments, forming hypotheses, and drawing conclusions.
