BASIC SCIENCE PROCESS SKILLS

Scientific Research

• It is defined as a systematic, controlled, empirical, and critical investigation of hypothetical propositions about the presumed relations among observed phenomena .

• From the root word “search” and the prefix “re,” research can be defined as a repetitive search for something previously unknown. Research involves a purposive, organized, and planned program of activities that result in the acquisition of new knowledge. Research activity leads you to a better understanding of yourself and your environment.

Aims of Research

• Generating new knowledge or information.

• Finding an application for the new knowledge.

• Verifying existing knowledge.

• Developing the investigator

Basic Research - when the research is conducted solely to come up with new knowledge or to have a fuller understanding of a particular subject for its own sake.

Applied Research - if the research is done to find an application of the knowledge whether new or old.

Sources of Research Topics

People, places, and objects around you are possible sources of your research. The communities where you live are also rich sources of research topics. You can determine the resources they have as well as their needs. Whenever or wherever there is a gap between needs and resources, a potential problem or topic of study arises. Often, you may not be able to note a gap. It would be helpful to talk to scientists, researchers or teachers by visiting them in their places of work, If this is not possible, you can write to them or read their published articles in the scientific literature. You can also surf the internet for potential research

Basic Science Process Skills

• These are the things that scientists do when they study and investigate.

• The science process skills help students to understand phenomena, answer questions, develop theories and discover information (Martin, 2009). They are essential in developing ideas (Harlen & Qualter, 2004) and they increase academic achievement in science learning (Aktamis & Ergin, 2008)

BASIC PROCESS SKILLS

• Observing is using one or more of the five senses to gather information. Many observations involve the senses of sight, hearing, touch, and smell.

• Inferring is interpreting an observation or statement based on prior knowledge. An inference is an act of reasoning, not a fact. That means an inference may be logical but not true.

• Predicting is an inference about a future event based on evidence, experiences, or knowledge. It plays a major role in science because they offer scientist a way to test ideas.

• Measuring is comparing an object or process to a standard. Scientists use a common set of standards called the System of Units, abbreviated as Si(for its French name, Systeme International d'Unites).

• Calculating is a process in which persons uses mathematical operations to manipulate numbers and symbols.

• Classifying is grouping of items according to some organizing idea or system.

• Using Tables and Graphs. Scientist analyze and interpret data tables and graphs to rmine the relationship of one variable to another and to make predictions based on the

• Using Models. A model is a mental or physical representation of an object, process, vent. In Science, models are usually made to help people understand natural objects the processes that affects these objects.