Scientific Reasoning

Front 1

Reasons for Conducting Scientific Investigation

Back 1

1. Establishing procedures

2. Improving quality of life

Front 2

Give an example of an investigation that has led to radically new designs that improve the quality of life

Back 2

1. Prosthetics

2. Artificial organs

Front 3

Quantitative

Back 3

relating to numbers

Front 4

Hypothesis

Back 4

An explanation formulated to answer the questions being investigated, has at its essence a statement that can be tested.

Front 5

What are the steps to a hypothesis?

Back 5

1. Identify the problem: Observe and determine the problem to be investigated.

2. Ask questions: Ask questions and attempt to formulate a solution to the problem

3. Formulate a hypothesis: Formulate explanations (i.e. hypotheses) to answer the questions. The language used within the hypothesis must be well-defined, such that any subsequent testing of the hypothesis is not subject to erroneous interpretation.

Front 6

List the six parts of a scientific argument

Back 6

1) Problem identification

2) Question asking

3) Hypothesis development

4) Data collection and experimentation

5) Analysis

6) Conclusion

Front 7

Problem Identification

Back 7

Observer and determine the problem to be investigated

Front 8

Question asking

Back 8

Ask questions and attempt to formulate a solutions to the problem.

Front 9

Hypothesis development

Back 9

Formulate explanations (i.e. hypotheses) to answer the questions. The language used within the hypothesis must be well-defined, such that any subsequent testing of the hypothesis is not subject to erroneous interpretation.

Front 10

Data Collection

Back 10

Collect data throughout the scientific process to test the hypotheses or predictions in a controlled environment. During this process, scientists gather as much information as possible in an attempt to answer the originally posed question as well as to create new questions.

Front 11

Experimentation

Back 11

Experimentation involves comparing a control group and an experimental group. The two groups both equally represent the population. The difference is that the experimental group is different from the control group based on one variable. Both groups are compared to understand what effect the variable has on the experimental group. That is, the experiment tests the question, "What effect does the independent variable have on the dependent variable?"

Front 12

Analysis

Back 12

Scientists must analyze data collected during experimentation. The researchers must determine if the data is reliable (consistent with past results) and whether or not it supports the hypothesis.

Front 13

Conclusion

Back 13

The purpose of the scientific process is to develop a conclusion. Scientists produce models to represent the explanations supported by the data. A scientist should carefully word his or her conclusion in a manner that is consistent with the hypothesis.

Front 14

List the 4 main steps in data collection

Back 14

1) Observation: Scientists use the five senses to learn as much as possible during data collection. Observation can be direct, such as listening to a bird call, or indirect, such as observing qualities of plants.

2) Measurement: Measuring allows for collection of quantitative data.

3) Samples: Data typically cannot be collected from every member of a population. Thus, scientists collect information form a representative sample of the population. This means that scientists obtain data from a subset of the population that looks like the population, but is small and more manageable.

4) Organization: The data should be organized. This may involve placing information in tables and /or charts.

Front 15

How does a scientific argument change over time?

Back 15

Possible answers include that a bias may be shown or that results can not be repeated.

Front 16

2 reasons why scientific research is dependent on technology

Back 16

1. Data is recorded in numbers

2. Relationships are established by graphs and formulas.

3. Numerical models are used to describe mathematical relationships.

Front 17

Without mathematics, scientific research would not be possible. Explain why this is true.

Back 17

If mathematics were not used, scientific descriptions would be purely qualitative in nature.

(qualitative - relating to, measuring, or measured by the quality of something rather than its quantity.)

Front 18

Describe how mathematics and science have increased communication in the corporate world.

Back 18

1. Mathematical software like spreadsheets, intranet, and Internet have increased communication b providing ways to share information.

2. Fiber-optics have increased communication speed and processing time.

Front 19

Apply the advancement of technology to our understanding of the solar system though history.

Back 19

1. Forensics

2. Cosmology

3. Meterorology

Front 20

Deductive reasoning

Back 20

Method whereby conclusions follow from a general principle.

(Specific Conclusion)

Front 21

Inductive reasoning

Back 21

Arriving at general principles from specific facts.

(relies heavily on a preponderance of information that leads to a degree of confidence in a conclusion)