Thinking like a scientist

What is Science? Science is a way of learning and exploring the natural world.

Six Main Principles of Science 1.Science is a way of knowing about the natural world. 2.Science is used by EVERYONE, not just scientists. 3.There are many different ways to solve the same problem. 4.Theories change in light of new evidence. 5.Be willing to test any claim. Experiment! Don’t blindly accept what other’s tell you. Sewer Lice 6.We assume that scientific principles work the same now as they have throughout time.

Thinking Like a Scientist Scientists use skills such as observing, inferring, predicting and making models to learn more about the world.

Observing: using one or more of your senses or instruments to gather information. Observations QualitativeQuantitative w/ numbers w/o numbers Instruments5 Senses

Quantitative Observation: Observations that deal with numbers Math or numbers to describe observations

We use instruments to gain both Qualitative and Quantitative Evidence Microscope GPS Telescope Carbon Monoxide Detectors Radar

Qualitative Observation What do you observe Koko Doing & what do you think Koko is observing? Observations using the 5 senses to describe the observation – NO NUMBERS [Sewer Lice]

Skepticism Scientists also have a healthy dose of skepticism. –It means they don’t always believe what they see or hear until further investigation. –Must find strong evidence to convince them of an idea or claim that would make up a theory. [Discuss Sewer Lice]

Evidence: #16 What do you see? [CSI] Facts or Data found from direct observation You are NOT interpreting the evidence. –It’s what you see

Inferring: #4 Making sense of the facts/ evidence you observe. –interpreting what you see. Deals with interpreting the past and present –What could you infer about the crime scene? [CSI]

Inferring: i.e. you see your friend smile after getting back an exam, you may automatically assume or infer that she got a good grade. However, your inference or assumption may not be correct; your friends smile might not have anything to do with the test at all. –What can you infer about the couple depicted below? What evidence leads you to believe your inferences?

1. What can you observe and infer about this couple? 2. What would you conclude is going on?

Predicting: #4 Making a forecast of what will happen in the future based on your interpretation of what you saw (facts/data). –i.e. when you see a dog growling with his hairs standing on end you can infer that he might feel threatened and hostile, but you predict that if you advanced closer, he will attack you.

Difference between Inferring and Predicting: Inferences are attempts to explain what is happening or has happened –(interpreting the past and present). Predictions are forecasts of what will happen –(predicting the future). –i.e. if you see an egg on the floor by a table, you might infer that the egg had rolled off the table. However, you see an egg rolling toward the edge of a table, you can predict that it’s about to create a mess.

Making Models: Creating a representation of complex objects or processes. –i.e. globes, maps, computer models. Models are only representations of the real object or process.