Scientific Problems
What is a scientific problem?
A scientific problem is a question or issue that can be investigated using scientific methods.
What is the first step of the scientific method?
The first step of the scientific method is Observation.
What does empirical mean in science?
Empirical means that science relies on observations and experiments, not opinions.
What is a peer-reviewed journal?
A peer-reviewed journal is an academic publication in which articles are reviewed by experts before publication to ensure quality and validity.
What is a scientific theory?
A scientific theory is a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world based on a body of evidence from multiple investigations.
Give an example of a scientific problem.
An example of a scientific problem: Noticing a decline in a local frog population and wondering if it’s due to pollution.
What is a hypothesis?
A hypothesis is a proposed explanation or solution to a scientific problem.
Why must scientific ideas be consistent?
Scientific ideas must be consistent to ensure reliability and reproducibility of results across different experiments.
Why is the author’s credentials important?
The author’s credentials are important because they indicate the expertise and qualifications of the author in the field being discussed.
How is a theory different from a hypothesis?
A theory is different from a hypothesis in that a hypothesis is a proposed explanation that can be tested, whereas a theory is a broader explanation that integrates multiple hypotheses and experimental results.
What steps are involved in defining a scientific problem?
The steps involved in defining a scientific problem include: Observation, Question, Hypothesis, Experiment, Data Collection, Conclusion.
Describe what happens during the data collection step.
During the data collection step, results are recorded and analyzed to assess the validity of the hypothesis.
How do scientists make predictions?
Scientists make predictions based on established theories and models derived from previous empirical evidence.
What makes a government agency a reliable source?
A government agency is a reliable source because it typically provides data and studies that are based on rigorous research and oversight.
Give an example of a well-supported scientific theory.
An example of a well-supported scientific theory is the Theory of Evolution, which explains the diversity of life on Earth through natural selection.
Explain why scientific problems must be testable.
Scientific problems must be testable because they need to be investigated through experiments to determine if the hypothesis is supported or refuted.
Why is it important to have a controlled experiment?
It is important to have a controlled experiment to ensure that only one variable is manipulated while others remain constant, allowing for clear conclusions.
What does tentative mean in scientific knowledge?
Tentative means that scientific knowledge is always open to revision based on new evidence.
How can bias affect the reliability of information?
Bias can affect the reliability of information by skewing the interpretation of data, leading to misleading conclusions.
Why is it important for scientific theories to evolve?
It is important for scientific theories to evolve because new evidence can lead to better understanding and refinement of theories, which drives scientific progress.
How does observation lead to scientific questions?
Observation leads to scientific questions by identifying gaps in knowledge or anomalies that prompt inquiries.
Explain how conclusions are drawn from experiments.
Conclusions are drawn from experiments by analyzing the data to see if it supports or refutes the hypothesis.
Provide an example of a reproducible experiment.
An example of a reproducible experiment could be testing the effects of light on plant growth, where other scientists can replicate the conditions and obtain similar results.
Compare a peer-reviewed study to an article on a blog.
A peer-reviewed study on coral bleaching is based on rigorous scientific methods, while an article on a blog may lack scientific backing and could be biased or anecdotal.
Explain how theories guide scientific research.
Theories guide scientific research by providing frameworks for understanding phenomena and directing hypotheses and experiments.