Nature of Science Wordlist

PDB (United States of America)
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  1. pseudoscience
    an activity resembling science but based on fallacious assumptions
    There are many variations of medical quackery, false advertising and other forms of "pseudoscience," where unconfirmed claims are presented as "scientific fact" to "prove" a flood of discredited assertions about a whole range of seemingly mysterious phenomena.
  2. science
    a branch of study or knowledge involving the observation, investigation, and discovery of general laws or truths that can be tested systematically
    Some teachers have asked how "The Nature of Science" differs from "The Scientific Method."
  3. scientific method
    a systematic way of investigating to test a hypothesis
    Some teachers have asked how "The Nature of Science" differs from "The Scientific Method."
  4. scientific knowledge
    knowledge accumulated by systematic study and organized by general principles
    The fact that the most highly credible concepts in science have survived such critical testing attests to the practical reliability of scientific knowledge and the processes of science that created that knowledge.
  5. reliability
    the quality of being dependable
    The "Nature of Science" (NoS), on the other hand, consists of those seldom-taught but very important features of working science, e.g., its realm and limits, its levels of uncertainty, its biases, its social aspects, and the reasons for its reliability.
  6. unconfirmed
    not finally established or settled
    There are many variations of medical quackery, false advertising and other forms of "pseudoscience," where unconfirmed claims are presented as "scientific fact" to "prove" a flood of discredited assertions about a whole range of seemingly mysterious phenomena.
  7. scientific fact
    an observation that has been confirmed repeatedly and is accepted as true (although its truth is never final)
    There are many variations of medical quackery, false advertising and other forms of "pseudoscience," where unconfirmed claims are presented as "scientific fact" to "prove" a flood of discredited assertions about a whole range of seemingly mysterious phenomena.
  8. disprove
    show to be false
    Supernatural or magical explanations cannot be definitively or reliably tested - they cannot be disproved, since any result of any test could be attributed to some supernatural or mysterious influence.
  9. misuse
    improper handling or application of something
    Our ignorance of these features of science has lead to many misuses, misrepresentations and abuses of science.
  10. reliably
    in a faithful manner
    Supernatural or magical explanations cannot be definitively or reliably tested - they cannot be disproved, since any result of any test could be attributed to some supernatural or mysterious influence.
  11. arguably
    as can be shown by a process of logical reasoning
    They are arguably more important than any particular set of steps supposedly used to solve a problem (but actually just an outline for reporting an experiment).
  12. quackery
    unscientific or ignorant medical treatment or advice
    There are many variations of medical quackery, false advertising and other forms of "pseudoscience," where unconfirmed claims are presented as "scientific fact" to "prove" a flood of discredited assertions about a whole range of seemingly mysterious phenomena.
  13. bias
    a partiality preventing objective consideration of an issue
    The "Nature of Science" (NoS), on the other hand, consists of those seldom-taught but very important features of working science, e.g., its realm and limits, its levels of uncertainty, its biases, its social aspects, and the reasons for its reliability.
  14. scientific
    consistent with systematic study of the physical world
    Some teachers have asked how "The Nature of Science" differs from "The Scientific Method."
  15. summarize
    briefly present the main points of something
    Science teachers should be committed to making sure that every student is vividly aware of the several elements of the NoS as summarized above.
  16. testing
    experimentation to determine how well something works
    However, in spite of its persistence in science textbooks and science standards, we find there is much more to science than its special ways of solving problems by testing proposed solutions.
  17. supernatural
    not able to be explained by physical laws
    Science can only address natural phenomena (not supernatural phenomena, as such), and only natural explanations can be used in science.
  18. solve
    find the answer to or understand the meaning of
    However, in spite of its persistence in science textbooks and science standards, we find there is much more to science than its special ways of solving problems by testing proposed solutions.
  19. openness
    without obstructions to passage or view
    Being done by people, science is also subject to any of the biases that its workers have, but its openness to critical community oversight tends to expose those biases when they have been allowed to creep in.
  20. focusing
    the concentration of attention or energy on something
    Among the perennial favorites in these lessons are:
    Sunsets, Souls and Senses; Mystery Boxes; Crime Scene; and the Checks Lab. They're a good place to start, but take a look at the others to provide greater variety, each focusing more on different aspects.
  21. misrepresentation
    a misleading falsehood
    Our ignorance of these features of science has lead to many misuses, misrepresentations and abuses of science.
  22. test
    standardized procedure for measuring sensitivity or aptitude
    However, in spite of its persistence in science textbooks and science standards, we find there is much more to science than its special ways of solving problems by testing proposed solutions.
  23. tested
    tested and proved to be reliable
    Supernatural or magical explanations cannot be definitively or reliably tested - they cannot be disproved, since any result of any test could be attributed to some supernatural or mysterious influence.
  24. solving
    finding a solution to a problem
    However, in spite of its persistence in science textbooks and science standards, we find there is much more to science than its special ways of solving problems by testing proposed solutions.
  25. phenomenon
    any state or process known through the senses
    Science can only address natural phenomena (not supernatural phenomena, as such), and only natural explanations can be used in science.
  26. subjective
    taking place within the mind and modified by individual bias
    Questions that require subjective, political, religious, ethical or esthetic judgment are generally beyond the power of science.
  27. critical
    of a serious examination and judgment of something
    The fact that the most highly credible concepts in science have survived such critical testing attests to the practical reliability of scientific knowledge and the processes of science that created that knowledge.
  28. assess
    estimate the nature, quality, ability or significance of
    These communications are critically assessed by the community, where errors, oversights and fraud can be exposed, while confirmation and consilience can be achieved to strengthen its findings.
  29. credible
    capable of being believed
    The fact that the most highly credible concepts in science have survived such critical testing attests to the practical reliability of scientific knowledge and the processes of science that created that knowledge.
  30. critically
    in a critical manner
    These communications are critically assessed by the community, where errors, oversights and fraud can be exposed, while confirmation and consilience can be achieved to strengthen its findings.
  31. persistence
    the act of continuing or repeating
    However, in spite of its persistence in science textbooks and science standards, we find there is much more to science than its special ways of solving problems by testing proposed solutions.
  32. probability
    a measure of how likely it is that some event will occur
    What we know in science is only with a relative level of confidence - a particular degree of probability.
  33. findings
    a collection of tools and other articles used by an artisan to make jewelry or clothing or shoes
    These communications are critically assessed by the community, where errors, oversights and fraud can be exposed, while confirmation and consilience can be achieved to strengthen its findings.
  34. lab
    a workplace for the conduct of scientific research
    Among the perennial favorites in these lessons are:
    Sunsets, Souls and Senses; Mystery Boxes; Crime Scene; and the Checks Lab. They're a good place to start, but take a look at the others to provide greater variety, each focusing more on different aspects.
  35. explanation
    making something understandable
    Science can only address natural phenomena (not supernatural phenomena, as such), and only natural explanations can be used in science.
  36. speculative
    not based on fact or investigation
    Others are merely speculative hunches, awaiting suitable testing to measure their respective probabilities.
  37. attest
    provide evidence for
    The fact that the most highly credible concepts in science have survived such critical testing attests to the practical reliability of scientific knowledge and the processes of science that created that knowledge.
  38. ethical
    conforming to accepted standards of social behavior
    Questions that require subjective, political, religious, ethical or esthetic judgment are generally beyond the power of science.
  39. reliable
    able to be depended on; consistent or steady
    Many ideas (understandings) in science have been extensively tested and found to be highly reliable, as close to a fact as an idea can be.
  40. element
    a substance that cannot be separated into simpler substances
    Students need to be taught these very important elements of science.
  41. community
    a group of people living in a particular local area
    Its procedures, results and analyses must be shared with the scientific community, and the public, through conferences and publications.
  42. solution
    a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances
    However, in spite of its persistence in science textbooks and science standards, we find there is much more to science than its special ways of solving problems by testing proposed solutions.
  43. confirmation
    information that verifies
    These communications are critically assessed by the community, where errors, oversights and fraud can be exposed, while confirmation and consilience can be achieved to strengthen its findings.
  44. level
    a relative position or degree of value in a graded group
    The "Nature of Science" (NoS), on the other hand, consists of those seldom-taught but very important features of working science, e.g., its realm and limits, its levels of uncertainty, its biases, its social aspects, and the reasons for its reliability.
  45. concept
    an abstract or general idea inferred from specific instances
    The fact that the most highly credible concepts in science have survived such critical testing attests to the practical reliability of scientific knowledge and the processes of science that created that knowledge.
  46. consistent
    the same throughout in structure or composition
    Natural explanations are testable - open to being disproved - being shown not to follow consistent rules of nature.
  47. tend
    have a disposition to do or be something; be inclined
    Scientific solutions tend to work!
  48. reporting
    the news as presented by reporters for newspapers or radio or television
    They are arguably more important than any particular set of steps supposedly used to solve a problem (but actually just an outline for reporting an experiment).
  49. uncertainty
    the state of being unsure of something
    The "Nature of Science" (NoS), on the other hand, consists of those seldom-taught but very important features of working science, e.g., its realm and limits, its levels of uncertainty, its biases, its social aspects, and the reasons for its reliability.
  50. myth
    a traditional story serving to explain a world view
    There is a common myth that there is only one way to do science: The Scientific Method.
  51. problem
    a question raised for consideration or solution
    However, in spite of its persistence in science textbooks and science standards, we find there is much more to science than its special ways of solving problems by testing proposed solutions.
  52. fraud
    intentional deception resulting in injury to another person
    These communications are critically assessed by the community, where errors, oversights and fraud can be exposed, while confirmation and consilience can be achieved to strengthen its findings.
  53. procedure
    a particular course of action intended to achieve a result
    Its procedures, results and analyses must be shared with the scientific community, and the public, through conferences and publications.
  54. achieve
    gain with effort
    These communications are critically assessed by the community, where errors, oversights and fraud can be exposed, while confirmation and consilience can be achieved to strengthen its findings.
  55. assertion
    a declaration that is made emphatically
    There are many variations of medical quackery, false advertising and other forms of "pseudoscience," where unconfirmed claims are presented as "scientific fact" to "prove" a flood of discredited assertions about a whole range of seemingly mysterious phenomena.
  56. knowledge
    the result of perception, learning, and reasoning
    The fact that the most highly credible concepts in science have survived such critical testing attests to the practical reliability of scientific knowledge and the processes of science that created that knowledge.
  57. strategy
    an elaborate and systematic plan of action
    Students must learn (and practice) the critical strategies for recognizing such claims.
  58. variation
    the process of being or becoming different
    There are many variations of medical quackery, false advertising and other forms of "pseudoscience," where unconfirmed claims are presented as "scientific fact" to "prove" a flood of discredited assertions about a whole range of seemingly mysterious phenomena.
  59. natural
    relating to or concerning the physical world
    Science can only address natural phenomena (not supernatural phenomena, as such), and only natural explanations can be used in science.
  60. analysis
    abstract separation of something into its various parts
    Its procedures, results and analyses must be shared with the scientific community, and the public, through conferences and publications.
  61. communications
    the discipline that studies transmitting information
    These communications are critically assessed by the community, where errors, oversights and fraud can be exposed, while confirmation and consilience can be achieved to strengthen its findings.
  62. attribute
    a quality belonging to or characteristic of an entity
    Supernatural or magical explanations cannot be definitively or reliably tested - they cannot be disproved, since any result of any test could be attributed to some supernatural or mysterious influence.
  63. realm
    a domain in which something is dominant
    The "Nature of Science" (NoS), on the other hand, consists of those seldom-taught but very important features of working science, e.g., its realm and limits, its levels of uncertainty, its biases, its social aspects, and the reasons for its reliability.
  64. process
    a particular course of action intended to achieve a result
    The fact that the most highly credible concepts in science have survived such critical testing attests to the practical reliability of scientific knowledge and the processes of science that created that knowledge.
  65. focus
    the concentration of attention or energy on something
    Among the perennial favorites in these lessons are:
    Sunsets, Souls and Senses; Mystery Boxes; Crime Scene; and the Checks Lab. They're a good place to start, but take a look at the others to provide greater variety, each focusing more on different aspects.
  66. shared
    have in common; held or experienced in common
    Its procedures, results and analyses must be shared with the scientific community, and the public, through conferences and publications.
  67. uncertain
    lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance
    Scientific knowledge is inherently uncertain.
  68. method
    a way of doing something, especially a systematic way
    Some teachers have asked how "The Nature of Science" differs from "The Scientific Method."
  69. limit
    as far as something can go
    The "Nature of Science" (NoS), on the other hand, consists of those seldom-taught but very important features of working science, e.g., its realm and limits, its levels of uncertainty, its biases, its social aspects, and the reasons for its reliability.
Created on Mon Sep 20 20:33:07 EDT 2010

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