The Nature of Science
Introductory Microbiology
What does Science mean to you?
Is this the process of Science to you?
We make a Hypothesis to explain observations.
Repeated experiments support our Hypothesis so it becomes a Theory
Further experiments prove our Theory true and it becomes a Law.
I have a name for this…
The Schoolhouse Rock version of Science.
Science isn’t taught like other subjects…
So students get stuck in the rote-memorization rut.
So what is wrong with that?
The problem is one of semantics
Define the word Apocalypse
Most of you go with this…
However, if you were a theologian, you would get…
Then how does Science work?
What is a Hypothesis?
“An Educated Guess” is too simplistic, you need to be more specific.
A Scientific Hypothesis has several features.
It must be experimentally testable.
It seeks to explain how a phenomenon works.
It predicts unknown results.
Likewise, a Scientific Theory is often misunderstood
Theories are NOT proven
Theories are hypotheses that have been expanded into general models of a phenomenon.
Theories are supported but falsifiable
Theories allow for the generation of new hypotheses.
A Scientific Law is probably the most misunderstood.
Laws are a distillation of repeated observations
Laws differ from theories in that they DO NOT posit explanations
Often Laws can be described as Mathematical Equations
Observed Phenomenon
Hypothesis
Theory
Law
A description, often mathematical
A posited model to explain the phenomenon
Allows the formation ofNew Hypotheses
Repeated experimentation And testing allows expansion And generalization