The Nature of Science To be scientifically literate

The Nature of Science To be scientifically literate, science students should have deeper understandings of science that studying the Nature of Science (NOS) provides.

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.

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.

NOS Example Write an account of what you think happened based on what you see here.

NOS Example continued What do you observe?

NOS Example continued What do you observe?

NOS Example continued What do you observe? What do you infer? Compare what you think now to your earlier written account.

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 Relate the example to as many NOS aspects as possible (slide 2 & 3. )