A scientist is someone who practices science. The methods involved in the practice of science are called the scientific method. A scientist uses the scientific method as a guide when conducting investigations. So, what does a person who practices science look like?
What Is Science?
In the introduction to the lesson, you looked at a series of people performing everyday tasks. You may be surprised to learn that each person was performing an activity that scientists carry out during scientific investigations. The ballplayer was practicing, or repeating, his swing; the woman at her computer was researching a solution to a problem; the farmer was making and recording observations; and the baker and the chemist were both following a set of procedures (a recipe is a procedure for making food). If you are doing any of these things to figure out the answer to a problem, you are practicing science.
Science has two main components: a body of knowledge and scientific investigations. Read the information about each component below to learn more. As you read, record information in your notes to prepare for the assignment for the lesson.
Body of Knowledge
Science is a body of knowledge about the natural world. This knowledge is a result of groups and individuals making observations, formulating questions, testing predictions, and using rational thinking to better understand the world. The body of knowledge that we call science has been built up over thousands of years and been contributed to by people from around the world. Scientific knowledge is constantly tested and changed as new observations and discoveries are made. As scientific knowledge continues to be questioned, tested, and reinforced, it grows and becomes more reliable.
You will need to learn what the following terms mean in the scientific community:
Observations: An observation occurs when a person uses his or her five senses to gather information about the surrounding world. The observer will typically record the information.
Questions: Sometimes, based on their observations, people have questions they want to answer. Some questions can be answered with a small-scale investigation. Other science questions take years to answer. Many scientific questions are still unanswered.
Hypotheses: A hypothesis (plural: hypotheses) is an explanation for a phenomenon that incorporates logic, experience, scientific thought, and observations. Predictions are educated guesses about the outcome or answer to a hypothesis. Scientists will develop a hypothesis about a question they wish to have answered, and the hypothesis will suggest one or more predictions.
Reliability: For an idea to be considered scientific, it must be testable and observable.
Not testable: What happens to Earth if the sun stops shining? This question is not testable because we cannot turn off the sun.
Not observable: How does my friend feel about me? This question is not testable using the five senses because feelings cannot be observed.
Scientific Investigations
A scientific investigation is a process used to test hypotheses and to answer questions by drawing conclusions based on observable data.
Science Skills
Science skills include the ability to observe phenomena, predict outcomes, analyze data, and draw conclusions. Anyone practicing science uses these skills, often without realizing it. For example, a baseball player may observe that his batting average increases if he takes practice swings with more than one bat. He observed other players practice their swings with multiple bats. He analyzed the data (batting average) and made the conclusion that he could improve his swing in the same way.
