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Understanding the Scientific Method: Inquiry, Experimentation, and Theory Development

Science is a systematic process of inquiry aimed at understanding our world. It includes observation, hypothesis development, experimentation, and interpretation. A scientific theory, formed from rigorous testing, offers explanations for natural phenomena without definitive proofs. Successful experiments test one hypothesis prediction at a time, utilizing control groups for comparison. Through careful observation, scientists can formulate hypotheses, as demonstrated by the varying forms of caterpillars in the Nemoria arizonaria moth, leading to new inquiries about their development.

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Understanding the Scientific Method: Inquiry, Experimentation, and Theory Development

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Presentation Transcript

  1. What is Science?

  2. Science is a Process • A method of inquiry • A systematic process that employs a method • Investigation of the world around us • A process with two goals: to improve the quality of life to explain natural phenomena

  3. A Model of Scientific Inquiry • Observation (leads to assumptions) • Develop an hypothesis (a testable prediction) • Experiment • Interpretation • Either supports or refutes the hypothesis

  4. A Successful Experiment • Test one prediction of a hypothesis at a time • Control group: a standard for comparison, all factors the same as the experimental group EXCEPT one • Variable is the object or event that may differ • Section 1.6 page 14, example

  5. No Proof! • The word prove is not used. • An experiment can reject an hypothesis, but it does not prove that that is the only explanation.

  6. Theory • A scientific theory is a hypothesis that has never been disproved after rigorous testing • Widely accepted • It does not have the same meaning as “theory” used in casual conversation

  7. A Sample Experiment • Observation: two different forms of caterpillars of Nemoria arizonaria moth • Catkin form in spring • Twig form later in summer • What hypothesis could you test to explain this? Catkin form Twig form

  8. A Sample Experiment • From observation, a hypothesis was formed • If eggs from a single female are exposed to spring temperatures (15°), then they will develop into catkin form. At summer temperatures (25°), they will be twig form

  9. Results • Eggs at both 15 and 25 degrees developed into the catkin form. • So experimenters tried again. • If eggs from a single female feed on catkins, then they will be catkin form, and if they feed on leaves, they will be twig form.

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