Scientific Thinking & the Scientific Method

Science

method of investigating nature to discover reliable knowledge about it

Reliable knowledge: one with a high probablility of truth as it is justified by a method

Scientific Method in Practice

1. Ask a meaningful question/identify a significant problem

2. Collect relevant information to answer the question

3. Formulate a Hypothesis

Proposed solution to the problem

4. Test the hypothesis

a) By experimenting

b) By making further observations

5. Testing Results

If it fails the test, it must be rejected or modified.

If it passes the test then it is kept; called Corroborated Hypothesis

6. Construct, support or doubt a scientific theory

Critical/Scientific Thinking

Thinking correctly which successfully leads to the most reliable answers to questions

Three components

Empiricism

Using Empirical Evidence

Evidence seen, heard, touched, tastde,smelled

Rationalism

Practicing Logical Reasoning

Skepticism

Being Skeptical

questioning your beliefs and conclusions

Scientists were the ones to bring the practice of critical thinking to the attention and use of modern society

A scientific fact is a hypothesis that has been tested and proven right