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Scientific Method and Science Skills - Matrix Education

Scientific Methods

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29 views12 pages

Scientific Method and Science Skills - Matrix Education

Scientific Methods

Uploaded by

Bryan De Silva
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Matrix Blog

Science 7-10 Year 9-10 Success Secrets

Parents Physics Biology Chemistry

Scientific Method and


Science Skills
In this post, the Matrix Science Team
explain why you should consider a
Science subject for Years 11 and 12.

Written by: Matrix Science Team

Our Matrix Science Team explain what the


Scientific Method is and reasons why
you should consider studying Biology,
Chemistry and/or Physics in Year 11 and
12.

We are constantly exposed to claims in


the media that assert to be scientific,
:
such as:

“Our product is scientifically proven


to work,”
“Our product is better because it’s
free of chemicals,”
“This is only a theory, so we can
consider alternative ideas.”

People generally trust scientific authority,


but don’t necessarily understand how
science actually works. Unless you
understand how science works, how can
you know whether or not to trust
“scientific” claims?

At a first glance, we can consider


statements like the ones above and ask
the following questions:

What does “scientifically proven”


mean?

Free of what chemicals? All matter,


including our bodies, is made of
chemicals.

What is a theory and how easily can


we disregard it? Gravity is also a
theory, and everyone accepts that it
works!

A scientist, with an understanding of the


scientific method, would ask more
:
analytical, probing questions:

How was the product shown to work?


What experiments were done and
were they valid, accurate and
reliable?

What chemicals is it free of? Were


those chemicals tested for safety?
There must still be chemicals
present, are those known to be safe?

In everyday language, “theory” means


hypothesis. In science, a theory is a
hypothesis that has been supported
by experiment. So what evidence
supports a theory? How easily can I
disregard this theory and consider
alternatives? What evidence supports
the alternatives?

Why is Science
Important to Students?
An understanding of scientific method is
important in our modern technological
society and, for this reason, scientific
skills are examined every year in the
HSC in all science subjects. The
assessment is in the form of practical
tests, where you design and perform an
:
experiment, and collect, analyse and
present data. Often you draw graphs and
calculate various quantities, and draw
conclusions. You are also asked to
examine experimental designs, and
consider why and how an experiment is
valid, reliable and accurate, and how it
can be improved.

Applying scientific skills and


understanding the scientific method are
areas where many students struggle,
since these ideas rarely get taught
explicitly in schools. By Year 12 these
skills are assumed knowledge in Biology,
Chemistry, and Physics.

Students are often told, “you can’t study


for a skills test, because it tests skills, not
knowledge.” This is false. You can
certainly learn the skills required for
understanding how to perform and talk
about experiments, how to collect and
analyse data, and how to critically assess
results.

As a bonus, understanding the scientific


method will make it more difficult for
people to trick you!
:
What is the Scientific
Method?
The scientific method works as follows:

1. You start with an observation (a fact),

2. You develop a testable hypothesis.


The hypothesis is a rule that explains
your observation. The hypothesis
needs to be testable is so that people
can check if it’s correct.

3. The hypotheses also need to make


predictions, so the predictions can be
tested.

4. You test the hypotheses and their


predictions by doing experiments and
collecting more facts.

5. If the hypotheses and predictions hold


up to all valid experiments, it becomes
a theory.

The experiments we use to test


hypotheses and theories need to be valid,
accurate and reliable. These three words
have specific meanings in this context:

An invalid experiment is one that is


fundamentally flawed, and is
incapable of correctly testing the
theory. For example, using the wrong
equipment or making the wrong
:
assumptions makes an experiment
invalid.

The accuracy of an experiment is


related to how single measurements
are made, e.g. using a stopwatch to
time something is more accurate than
counting “one Mississippi, two
Mississippi,…”.

Reliability means getting the same


result every time; how repeatable a
result is. If you get a different result
every time, then how do you know
which result is correct?

According to the scientific method, if


your theory makes a prediction, and your
valid, accurate and reliable experiment
gives a result that matches that
prediction, then you can assume that
your theory is correct in this particular
instance. You can continue with this
assumption until an experiment gives a
different result to what your theory
predicted. If an experiment gives a
different result, then you have to
investigate why: does your theory need
revising, or was your experiment flawed?

If you want to learn more about validity,


accuracy, and reliability, you should read
our detailed blog post .
:
Why is Science
Important to Society?
The scientific method and science, in
general, are often misunderstood as a
way to accumulate facts. However, there
is a big difference between facts and
understanding. You do need the facts
that are generated by science, but you
also need to use these to gain an
understanding of the physical world
around us. This understanding is used to
improve our lives through the
development of technology. All modern
technology, like the device you’re
reading this blog on, and the internet that
allows you access this blog, are only
made possible by the understanding
achieved through science.

Want to boost your


Physics marks?
:
Physics doesn't
need to be
confusing
Expert teachers, detailed
feedback, one-to-one help! Learn
from home with Matrix+ Online
Courses.

View a sample lesson

Written by Matrix
Science Team
The Matrix Science Team
are teachers and tutors
with a passion for Science
and a dedication to seeing
Matrix Students achieving
their academic goals.

© Matrix Education and www.matrix.edu.au, 2023.


:
Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material
without express and written permission from this
site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.
Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and
clear credit is given to Matrix Education and
www.matrix.edu.au with appropriate and specific
direction to the original content.

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