Reasoning questions with verified
solutions
scientific reasoning
the reasoning used to explain, predict, and control empirical phenomena in a rational manner
what is scientific reasoning used to do?
design experiments
test hypotheses
interpret data
what does scientific reasoning involve?
explaining aspects of the world around us using theories that offer explanations and make predictions
theories should be supported by evidence
the world
scientific reasoning aims to understand some aspect of the worlds around us
theories
theories are statements of laws, hypotheses, and other putative facts about the world
, explanations and predictions
theories explain certain aspects of the world and make predictions
predictions can be about the future, the present, or the past (retrodictions)
data (evidence)
information gathered from observations or experiments
data can either support theories or tell against it
misconception about theories
everyday language "theory" is sometimes used to mean a tentative hypothesis
reality: scientific theories are well supported by evidence
the hypothetical deductive method (HD method) STEPS
1. identify the hypothesis to be tested
2. generate predictions from the hypothesis
3. use experiments to check whether the predictions are correct
4. if the predictions are correct, the hypothesis is confirmed. otherwise the hypothesis is disconfirmed
is confirming a hypothesis the same as conclusively establishing that it is true?
NO.