Common Scientific Habits
Areas of Science
Scientific Explanations
Empirical Evidence
Pseudoscience
100

When a person asks questions about how things work or wants to learn more about things, they are demonstrating this characteristic.

Curiosity

100

This area of science studies the surface and interior of the earth.

Earth Science

100

If another scientist tests my explanation and their results do not support it, what happens?

 My explanation is rejected, changed, and retested.

100

Empirical Evidence includes ___ and ___.

Observations and measurements

100

Pseudoscience/ Science/ Both

Evidence is very vague and lacks measurement.

Pseudoscience

200

When you reason through information and make sure answers are reasonable, you are using this characteristic.

Logic

200

This area of science studies living things.

Life science

200

Scientific ideas must be _____ and reproducible.

testable
200

Empirical Evidence does NOT include ___ or ___.

Opinions or Guesses

200

Pseudoscience/ Science/ Both

Explanations can sound logical.

Both

300

When you set aside your personal feelings, moods, or beliefs and draw conclusions based on FACTS, not opinions you are using this characteristic.

Objectivity

300

This area of science studies non-living matter and energy.

Physical Science

300

What does a scientific explanation give us?

A description of how something in nature occurs.

300

Is the following an example of empirical evidence?  The temperature of the liquid is 25 degrees.

EXPLAIN.

Yes, it is empirical evidence because it can be measured.

300

Pseudoscience/ Science/ Both

Uses technical, scientific-sounding terms

Both

400

Being original and coming up with new ideas is an example of this characteristic.

Creativity

400

Life science is also known as ___.

Biology

400

Do scientists need to make their data available to other scientists?  Why or why not?

Yes, they need to make their data available to other scientists so they have a chance to conduct further tests and either support their claim or prove it wrong.

400

Is the following an example of empirical evidence?

It took the ice 15 minutes to melt.

EXPLAIN

Yes, it is empirical evidence because you can time it.

400

Pseudoscience/ Science/ Both

Is based on empirical evidence.  Claims can be tested.

Science

500

You ask a lot of questions before deciding if something is factual.  You don't believe everything you see and hear immediately.  You are demonstrating what characteristic?

Skepticism

500

Earth Science is also known as ___.

Geology

500

If I want to evaluate a scientific explanation, what three steps would I take?

1. Look at the evidence.

2. Decide if it's logical.

3. Think of other tests I could run to support it.

500

Is the following an example of empirical evidence?

Swimming in ocean water is exciting.

EXPLAIN

No, this is not empirical evidence because it cannot be measured or observed.  It is an opinion.

500

Pseudoscience/ Science/ Both

Asks skeptics to prove its claims to be false.

Pseudoscience