1. What is Science?

Question

2. Why can’t scientific questions be opinion based?

3. Describe the steps of the Scientific Method. Is this process linear or cyclical? Why?

4. What is pseudoscience? What are the characteristics of pseudoscience?

5. What is anecdotal evidence and how is it used?

6. What factors should you examine when evaluating the reliability of information in sources?

7. How do scientists use creativity to construct and answer scientific questions?

8. What is the greatest advantage of using different methods that result in the same outcome?

9. What does the phrase “science is durable” mean? How does repetition and replication help with the durability of science?

10. Describe the similarities and differences between scientific theories and laws. Give an example of each.

11. Describe the theory of evolution/natural selection

12. Explain why scientific collaboration is important to research.

13. Define a fact, observation, and inference and give an example of each. (Be able to identify all 3 from an example.)

Answer 1

1. What is Science? Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe. It involves observing, experimenting, and making conclusions based on evidence and logical reasoning.

2. Why can’t scientific questions be opinion-based? Scientific questions must be based on observable phenomena and evidence rather than personal beliefs or opinions. This is because subjective opinions cannot be tested or validated through empirical methods, which is essential for reproducibility and reliability in science.

3. Describe the steps of the Scientific Method. Is this process linear or cyclical? Why? The Scientific Method typically involves the following steps:

   • Observation: Gathering information.
   • Question: Asking a specific question based on observations.
   • Hypothesis: Formulating a testable hypothesis.
   • Experimentation: Conducting experiments to test the hypothesis.
   • Analysis: Analyzing data gathered from the experiments.
   • Conclusion: Drawing conclusions about the hypothesis based on the data.
   • Repetition: Repeating the process to verify results.

   This process is cyclical, because after drawing conclusions, scientists may refine their hypotheses and ask new questions, leading to further experimentation and exploration.

4. What is pseudoscience? What are the characteristics of pseudoscience? Pseudoscience refers to claims, beliefs, or practices that are presented as scientific but lack empirical evidence and the rigorous methodological standards of genuine science. Characteristics include:

   • Lack of falsifiability
   • Reliance on anecdotal evidence
   • Absence of peer review
   • Use of vague or misleading language
   • Reliance on confirmation rather than refutation

5. What is anecdotal evidence and how is it used? Anecdotal evidence is based on personal accounts or testimonials rather than scientific data. It is often used to support a claim but can be misleading as it does not sufficiently demonstrate a causal relationship or generalize to a broader population.

6. What factors should you examine when evaluating the reliability of information in sources? When evaluating the reliability of information, consider:

   • Author's credentials and expertise
   • Source reputation (peer-reviewed journals vs. blogs)
   • References and citations for data
   • Objectivity and potential biases
   • Consistency with other research findings

7. How do scientists use creativity to construct and answer scientific questions? Scientists employ creativity to develop innovative hypotheses, design experiments, and think outside conventional frameworks. This may involve looking at problems from new perspectives or employing interdisciplinary approaches to connect disparate ideas and generate fresh insights.

8. What is the greatest advantage of using different methods that result in the same outcome? The greatest advantage is the increased robustness and validity of the findings. If multiple independent methods yield the same results, it strengthens confidence in the conclusions and suggests that the findings are reliable and not an artifact of a specific approach.

9. What does the phrase “science is durable” mean? How does repetition and replication help with the durability of science? "Science is durable" means that scientific knowledge is resilient and can withstand scrutiny over time. Repetition and replication allow different scientists to verify results and confirm their accuracy, thus strengthening the body of scientific knowledge and reducing the likelihood of error.

10. Describe the similarities and differences between scientific theories and laws. Give an example of each. Similarities:

    • Both are based on empirical evidence and research.
    • Both are accepted as valid descriptions of natural phenomena.

    Differences:

    • Scientific Law: Describes what happens under certain conditions (e.g., Newton's Law of Gravitation: describes the gravitational force between two masses).
    • Scientific Theory: Explains why or how something happens (e.g., the Theory of Evolution: explains how species change over time through mechanisms like natural selection).

11. Describe the theory of evolution/natural selection. The theory of evolution by natural selection posits that organisms that are better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. This process results in the gradual change of species over generations. Key mechanisms include variation in traits, competition for resources, and differential reproduction.

12. Explain why scientific collaboration is important to research. Scientific collaboration fosters knowledge sharing, pooling of resources, diverse expertise, and innovative problem-solving. By working together, scientists enhance the breadth of research, increase the validity of findings, and create a more thorough understanding of complex issues.

13. Define a fact, observation, and inference and give an example of each.

    • Fact: An objective, verifiable statement (Example: Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius at sea level).
    • Observation: Information gathered through senses (Example: The leaves on the tree are green).
    • Inference: A conclusion drawn from observations (Example: The tree is healthy because its leaves are green).

    Identifying Examples:

    • Fact: "This temperature is 30°C." (Objective measurement)
    • Observation: "I see dark clouds in the sky." (Information gathered through sight)
    • Inference: "It might rain soon." (Conclusion based on the observation of dark clouds)