Section 2.1: The Scientist’s Mind Key Vocabulary Evidence Hypothesis

Qualities of Scientific Thinking Scientists make observations. They ask questions about what they observe. They make predictions about the cause of the things that they observe. Their predictions are based on evidence that can be measured and tested. (Prediction=Hypothesis) They test their hypothesis. They communicate their results to their Peers.

What is Evidence? Evidence is defined as material or data that can be measured or tested to verify a prediction or hypothesis.

What is a Hypothesis? A Hypothesis is a tentative explanation for an observation or phenomenon (an “educated guess”).

How Scientists Think Scientists are skeptical. They question long-held ideas. They try to prove new ideas and disprove others. As a result, only correct interpretations of “reality” stand the “test of time”.

Section 2.2: Scientific Methods of Inquiry Key Vocabulary Scientific Inquiry Peer Review Theory Law Scientific Method

What is Scientific Inquiry? Scientific Inquiry is a two-component problem-solving process of generating and testing of the hypothesis. The organization of this problem-solving process is called the Scientific Method. (Process-Framework)

How Scientist Approach Questions The Scientific Method State a problem Research Form a Hypothesis Test the Hypothesis (conduct an experiment) Record and Analyze the data State a conclusion Repeat or redesign experiment Report Results