Nature of Science

Mrs. Pesta (United States of America)
14 words that are important to understanding the nature of science.
14 words 459 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. empirical
    derived from experiment and observation rather than theory
    The scientist based his conclusion on empirical research.
    If a scientific experiment is empirical, that means it is testable and data is collected to draw conclusions.
  2. data
    a collection of facts from which conclusions may be drawn
    In our class data will include observations and measurements such as length, time, mass, or volume.
  3. creativity
    the ability to bring something into existence
    If you can figure out how to solve a problem in a new way you are creative.
    Creativity is not limited to artists and musicians. Anyone who can think in a unique way and come up with new ways to solve problems (such as fixing a bicycle with parts that are not typically used)is creative.
  4. imagination
    the ability to form mental pictures of things or events
    Creativity – developed with imagination
  5. observation
    the act of taking a patient look
    An observation happens when a person uses one or more of their senses.
  6. inference
    a conclusion you can draw based on known evidence
    Inferences make sense of observations. When you collect data you use that data to infer what happened during the collection. An example would be...You walk outside of the house and see puddles on the ground. Your data is the observation that there are puddles on the ground. You could infer that it rained while you were inside the house.
  7. subjectivity
    judgment based on individual impressions and feelings
    Subjectivity – each person’s background knowledge impacts how they view data and even their observations
  8. background
    a person's social heritage, previous experience, or training
    Subjectivity – each person’s background knowledge impact how they view data and even their observations
  9. impact
    a strong influence
    Your prior knowledge and experiences impact how you observe activities.
  10. theory
    a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the world
    A scientific theory is backed by a large amount of data and observation. Theories explain the observations that are made by the scientist.
    Theories do not turn into laws. A theory explains the data that is collected.
  11. function
    what something is used for
    Law – laws and theories have different functions; theories don’t turn into laws.
  12. context
    the set of facts or circumstances that surround a situation
    Social and Cultural Context – society that science is part of has a big impact on what is studied
  13. law
    a generalization that describes recurring events in nature
    A scientific law describes natural events that occur. Example: Newton's Laws of Motion Remember: Theories do not turn into laws and Laws do not become theories.
  14. tentative
    hesitant or lacking confidence; unsettled in mind or opinion
    Science is tentative because data is constantly being collected and new information may become available.
Created on Fri Aug 30 10:27:46 EDT 2013 (updated Fri Sep 06 10:33:25 EDT 2013)

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