Science Skills and Methods

Science Skills

1. Observe: Gain information by watching

2. Infer: Make a conclusion based upon available data

3. Estimate: Make careful guesses

4. Measure: Exact information about an observation

5. Predict: State what you think might happen

6. Classify: Grouping things that are alike

7. Hypothesize: State a possible explanation for something; it is based on information already known

8. Record and Organize: Keep careful records

9. Analyze: Study the data

Experiments

· An experiment is a way for testing a hypothesis

· The setup of an experiment is determined by the hypothesis

i. Independent variable

1. a variable that causes a change in another

ii. Dependent variable

1. The variable that changes in response to the independent variable

· In an experiment scientists change the independent variable to see changes that occur in the dependent variable

i. Control

1. All variables are identical to those in experiment setup except no independent variable

Methods of Science

· The Scientific Method

i. A method of approaching a problem, experiment, or an issue

1. Steps

1. State the Problem

2. Hypothesize

3. Plan Your Experiment/ Make A

Prediction

4. Complete Your Experiment

5. Gather and Organize Data

6. Analyze Data

7. Conclude

Facts, Laws and Theories

· Fact

i. Things that are true or real; Facts do not change

· Law

i. A description of the relationship between events that occur together repeatedly

1. Ex: Newton’s Laws of Motion

· Theory

i. An explanation that has been partly verified; Before a theory is accepted, the facts/ideas that support it are tested many times by observations and experiments