Process of Science
● Science is…
○ A body of knowledge
○ A process we used to acquire knowledge by testing ideas (hypothesis driven
science)
● The scientific method
○ Observe and generalize
■ Ex:
● Observation 1: Cyclophosphamide reduces tumors in rats
● Observation 2: Cyclophosphamide reduces tumors in dogs
● Generalization: Cyclophosphamide reduces tumors in mammals
■ Inductive reasoning (extrapolating from specific to general case)
○ Formulate a hypothesis
■ Tentative statement (not question!) About the natural world
■ Cannot ever be “proven“ only supported
■ Must be testable and falsifiable
○ Make a testable prediction
■ Use deductible reasoning (Applying general case to specific)
■ If/then statements, specific
● “If… (General thing) is true, then… (Specific thing) should
happen.”
○ Experiment or observe
■ Experiment: manipulation of the natural world to test your predictions
○ Modify hypothesis
■ Based off of experiments or observations, you modify your hypothesis
● Experimental design
○ Controlled experiment: all possible variables are controlled so they cannot affect
the outcome
○ Variable: what is being changed and observed during an experiment
■ Independent variable: stands alone, and isn’t changed by the other
variables you were trying to measure
■ Dependent variable: depends on the independent variable
● 4 characteristics of meaningful research:
○ Uses controls (eliminates alternate explanations of results.)
○ Tests one variable at a time
○ Is replicated, or repeated several times (within and/or between experiments)
○ Has a “large enough“ sample size
■ Depends on experimental design
■ How small of an effect you’re trying to detect
■ How many resources you have
, ● What is a theory?
○ A theory is a broad hypothesis that has been extensively, tested and supported
by many people
● Elements: fundamental form of matter that can’t be broken down
● Atoms: smallest unit of any element that retains physical and chemical properties of that
element
○ Nucleus
■ Protons (+ charge)
■ Neutrons (neutral charge)
○ Electrons (- charge, orbits the nucleus.)
● Atomic # (# of protons)
● Atomic mass (protons + neutrons)
●
● Isotopes: Atoms with more or fewer than the “usual“ number of neutrons
○ Stable
○ Unstable (radiosotopes)
● Science is…
○ A body of knowledge
○ A process we used to acquire knowledge by testing ideas (hypothesis driven
science)
● The scientific method
○ Observe and generalize
■ Ex:
● Observation 1: Cyclophosphamide reduces tumors in rats
● Observation 2: Cyclophosphamide reduces tumors in dogs
● Generalization: Cyclophosphamide reduces tumors in mammals
■ Inductive reasoning (extrapolating from specific to general case)
○ Formulate a hypothesis
■ Tentative statement (not question!) About the natural world
■ Cannot ever be “proven“ only supported
■ Must be testable and falsifiable
○ Make a testable prediction
■ Use deductible reasoning (Applying general case to specific)
■ If/then statements, specific
● “If… (General thing) is true, then… (Specific thing) should
happen.”
○ Experiment or observe
■ Experiment: manipulation of the natural world to test your predictions
○ Modify hypothesis
■ Based off of experiments or observations, you modify your hypothesis
● Experimental design
○ Controlled experiment: all possible variables are controlled so they cannot affect
the outcome
○ Variable: what is being changed and observed during an experiment
■ Independent variable: stands alone, and isn’t changed by the other
variables you were trying to measure
■ Dependent variable: depends on the independent variable
● 4 characteristics of meaningful research:
○ Uses controls (eliminates alternate explanations of results.)
○ Tests one variable at a time
○ Is replicated, or repeated several times (within and/or between experiments)
○ Has a “large enough“ sample size
■ Depends on experimental design
■ How small of an effect you’re trying to detect
■ How many resources you have
, ● What is a theory?
○ A theory is a broad hypothesis that has been extensively, tested and supported
by many people
● Elements: fundamental form of matter that can’t be broken down
● Atoms: smallest unit of any element that retains physical and chemical properties of that
element
○ Nucleus
■ Protons (+ charge)
■ Neutrons (neutral charge)
○ Electrons (- charge, orbits the nucleus.)
● Atomic # (# of protons)
● Atomic mass (protons + neutrons)
●
● Isotopes: Atoms with more or fewer than the “usual“ number of neutrons
○ Stable
○ Unstable (radiosotopes)
