Transcript The Nature of Science - Georgia State University

The Nature of Science
To be scientifically literate, science
students should have deeper
understandings of science that studying
the Nature of Science (NOS) provides.
NOS Example
Write an account
of what you think
happened based
on what you see
here.
NOS Example
continued
How does your story change?
NOS Example
How does your story change?
NOS Example
continued
What do you observe?
What do you infer?
Compare what you think now
to your earlier written accounts.
Some Aspects of NOS
• Scientific knowledge is tentative.
• Scientific knowledge has basis in empirical
evidence.
• There is a difference between data and evidence.
• Scientific laws and theories are separate kinds of
scientific knowledge.
• Scientific knowledge is based upon observations
and inferences.
• Scientific knowledge is heavily dependent upon
theories.
Some Aspects of NOS
Continued
• Scientific knowledge is created from human
imagination and logical reasoning.
• Scientific knowledge can be obtained by a variety
of scientific methods.
• Scientific observations are inherently subjective
based on interpretations.
• Science is a human endeavor influenced by
society and culture.
Observation and Inference
• There are differences between observations and
the inferences made based on observations.
• Based on the same data, and scientists’ prior
experiences, different inferences can be made,
which lead to difference conclusions. Some of
these are right and some are wrong.
• Attempting to sort this out is what science is
about!
The Nature of Science
The Mystery Tube
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Show an example tube
Students construct a tube
Relate to scientific models and theories.
Have students describe how this is similar
to something in the course content.
The Nature of Science
Observations and Theories
• Pulling on ropes were the observations.
• Your various models are the theories to
explain the observation.
• The same observations, or data, may be
used as evidence for several models or
theories.
The Nature of Science
Observations and Theories
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RECALL THE OBSERVATIONS
Daily east to west motion of celestial sphere.
Sun’s annual motion from west to east.
Seasons
Phases of the moon.
Eclipses.
Planetary motions and configurations.
The Nature of Science
Observations and Theories
RECALL THE THEORIES