The Scientific Method

In trying to distinguish science from non-science, you might list all the subjects that count as science such as physics, chemistry and biology – and then say that everything else is non-science. However, this does not seem to be very helpful because it does not explain why some things count as science and other things do not. A better approach might be to say that what distinguishes science from non-science is a distinctive method. On this view, science is not so much a fixed body of knowledge as a way of thinking about the world.

Task 1

Each of the elements below is relevant to the scientific method. Try to put them into sequential order and write a short description as to how a scientist typically works at each stage of the method.

·  Experiment

·  Induction

·  Hypothesis

·  Law

·  Measurement

·  Observation

·  Repeatability

·  Theory

Use the following resources to assist you:

http://teacher.pas.rochester.edu/phy_labs/appendixe/appendixe.html

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/mentoring/project_scientific_method.shtml

http://biology.clc.uc.edu/Courses/bio104/sci_meth.htm

Task 2

How is each of the following similar to a scientific activity and how is it different?

  1. Baking a cake by following a recipe.
  2. ‘Experimenting’ with ingredients and making your own recipe.
  3. Collecting and organising stamps from around the world.
  4. Repairing a car that has broken down.
  5. Heating a fixed volume of gas to see what happens to the pressure.
  6. Speculating on the origins of the universe.
  7. Studying human anatomy before making a sculpture.
  8. Doing detective work to solve a murder.
  9. Inventing the light bulb.
  10. Predicting rain because the clouds look threatening.
  11. Solving a crossword puzzle.
  12. Noticing that you always need something after you have thrown it away.

Reference

Van de Lagemaat. R. (2005). Theory of Knowledge for the IB Diploma. pp. 221-224. Cambridge University Press, UK.