Nature of Science Dr. Charles Ophardt EDU 370

Nature of Science Interconnected and validated ideas Successive generations have increasing comprehensive understandings Specific and particular ways of thinking - observing, experimenting, and validating Different from other modes of knowing.

Scientific World View Basic beliefs and attitudes about the nature of the world and what can be learned from it. World is Understandable Things and events are consistant patterns that are comprehensible Careful and systematic study

Scientific World View II Scientific Ideas are Subject to Change Science is a process of producing knowledge through observations Invent theories to make sense of observations New observations make changing theories inevitable Can only produce "possible" to "highly probable" explanations for natural phenomena; these are never certainties.

Scientific World View III Scientific Knowledge is Durable Absolute truth attainment rejected Knowledge, ideas, theories are modified Theories become more precise and widely accepted

Scientific World View IV Science Cannot Answer All Questions Beliefs can not be proven or disproven Cannot settle questions of “good or evil” Must be able to control variables and carry out experiments.

Scientific Inquiry Science disciplines united in reliance on observation, evidence, hypothesis, theories, logic Science Demands Evidence Observations, measurements, accurate data Use own senses or instruments Probe natural world

Scientific Inquiry II Science Explains and Predicts Make sense of observations Make explanations and theories Logically sound Incorporate significant body of observations

Scientific Inquiry III Science is not a process in which one solution is as good as another, or is simply a matter of opinion. In science, there is rigorous analysis fair-test comparison of alternative explanations, using discriminate criteria Confirm by multiple independent lines of evidence, leading to one "best” solution.

Scientific Inquiry IV Scientists Try to Identify and Avoid Bias Claims must be based on evidence Evidence can be biased in interpretation, recording, or reporting of data Which data are chosen? Unconscious racial bias, gender bias, social status, source of funding, or political leanings can and do influence one's perceptions and interpretations.

Scientific Inquiry V Science is not Authoritarian Appropriate to turn to knowledgeable sources of information and opinion Esteemed authorities may be wrong and do not define what is true No pre-established conclusions

Scientific Enterprise Has individual, social, and institutional dimensions A major feature of the contemporary world Science is a Complex Social Activity Many individuals doing many kinds of work and study

Scientific Enterprise II Organized by Disciplines Generally Accepted Ethical Principles Strongly held traditions of accurate records, data, peer review, attribution of prior work Do not falsify data or findings or withhold information

Scientific Enterprise III Participate in Public Affairs as Scientists and as Citizens Bring insights and skills to bear on matters of public concern Help to understand likely causes Help to estimate possible effects of projected policies

Distinguishing Science and Pseudoscience Pseudoscience is indifferent to criteria of valid evidence. Always avoids putting its claims to a meaningful test. Pseudoscience depends on arbitrary conventions of human culture, rather than on unchanging regularities of nature. http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/pseudo.html

Distinguishing Science and Pseudoscience II Pseudoscience appeals to false authority, to emotion, sentiment, or distrust of established fact. Pseudoscience makes extraordinary claims and advances fantastic theories that contradict what is known about nature. Evidence for a discovery is anecdotal. The discoverer must propose new laws of nature to explain an observation.

Questions I Describe the nature of Scientific Ideas or Theories. Which statement is false? A. A scientific theory is used to predict future events. B. Predictions are compared to reality. C. If the prediction does not occur exactly as the theory predicted , the entire theory is disproven. D. Theories become more precise and widely accepted with time

Questions II Describe the nature of science. Which statement is false? A. Science Cannot Answer All Questions B. Beliefs can be proven or disproven C. Cannot settle questions of “good or evil” D. Science is able to control variables and carry out experiments.

Questions III Describe the nature of science. Which statement is false? A. Science is Authoritarian B. It is appropriate to turn to knowledgeable sources of information and opinion C. Esteemed authorities may be wrong and do not define what is true D. There are no pre-established conclusions

Questions IV Describe the nature of science. Which statement is false? A. Science is Authoritarian B. It is appropriate to turn to knowledgeable sources of information and opinion C. Esteemed authorities may be wrong and do not define what is true D. There are no pre-established conclusions

Questions V Describe the nature of science. Which statement is false? A. Science disciplines rely on observation, evidence, hypothesis, theories, logic B. Science demands evidence for theories C. Pseudoscience observations are repeatable or verifiable D. All relevant observations are considered

Questions VI Describe the nature of science. Which statement is false? A. Science explains and predicts B. Science makes sense of observations C. Makes explanations and theories D. Science can perform controlled experiments to study phenomena of interest E. Scientific ideas are absolutely proven

Questions VII Describe the nature of science. Which statements are false? A. The natural world is understandable B. Scientific Laws are not subject to change C. Scientific knowledge is durable D. Science can answer all questions E. Science demands evidence F. Science explains and predicts G. Scientists try to identify and avoid bias H. Science is authoritarian

References Science for All Americans http://www.project2061.org/tools/sfaaol/chap1.htm