GNED 1101 Scientific Method - Module 2

Statement

A sentence that can either be true or false, but not both simultaneously.

Scientific Hypothesis/Statement

A statement that can be tested experimentally

Falsification

For a given scientific hypothesis, there should be an experiment to perhaps disprove the claim stated. If a statement is not falsifiable, it is not considered scientific. It therefore allows you to test the validity of a claim.

Who introduced falsification?

Karl Popper

Inductive Reasoning

A general principle is true because all of the special cases you’ve seen so far, are true (e.g. I have only seen white swans, therefore, all swans are white).

Deductive Reasoning

Concluding that one thing must be true because it is a special case of a general principle that is true (e.g. All dogs have fur. Fred is a dog. Therefore, Fred has fur).

Which method does math use? Inductive or deductive reasoning?

Deductive reasoning

Which method does science often use?

Inductive reasoning (a sample group is studied, and then conclusions are drawn for the entire population)

Scientific Method Steps

1. Observation

2. Scientific hypothesis

3. Designing an experiment

4. Examinations and testing

5. Evaluation and conclusion

6. Peer-review and publication

Scientific Theory

This is when a hypothesis fails to be disproven after copious amounts of experiments and studies.

Scientific Law

This is when a scientific theory has stood the test of time and never shown to be false, despite enormous amounts of evidence being analyzed.