What is Science?
Science; information obtained as a result of experiments and observations.Scientific Method
Human beings observe events around them and asks some questions like why?, how?. In scientific studies, you should ask these questions systematically and carry out your study beyond answers of these questions. To do this, there is a method for scientific studies. Now, we learn this method step by step.1. State scientific problem clearly. Ask questions .
2. Do research for problem. Scientists should be patient and do observations.
Fact: These are observations that are repeated by everyone with the same results.
Data: The facts about a particular problem.
Observation: Examining an event or problem in every detail. There are two kinds of observation method.
a) Qualitative Observation: This observation is done with your five senses. You use smell, color or sounds of observed item to make qualitative observation. For example, "Air is too hot today." in this sentence there is a qualitative observation.
b) Quantitative Observation: In this observation type, in addition to five sense, measurement instruments are also used like thermometer, barometer. Since they give more accurate results than qualitative observations, scientists use this observation technique. For example, "Temperature of water is 56 0C." is quantitative observation.
3. Construct hypothesis. After doing research and experiment on a given problem, scientist construct a temporary solution which we call "hypothesis". A good hypothesis should have two property. They are; it should cover all data related to the problem and give a chance to make new predictions.
4. Make predictions based on your hypothesis. In general these predictions are stated with following structure;
"If _____________then,_______________will happen."
5. Do experiment, analyze data and test your hypothesis.
6. If there is a mistake, turn back to step 3. If there is no problem, make conclusion.
Controlled Experiment
In an experiment there can be many variables. To do controlled experiment, keep all these variables stable, and change one of them in each case. If the controlled experiment results validate the predictions and support the hypothesis, the hypothesis becomes fact. This hypothesis has been supported by different scientists for many years, and it is verified from time to time by experiments and observations, but if its proof is done indirectly, then rooted hypotheses become theory in time.Theory: The rooted hypotheses, which cannot be directly proven but continue to explain new facts, are called theory. (Evolution theory, cell theory.)
Law: Scientific facts accepted all over the world are called laws. One of the desired results in scientific studies is to explain the cause of the events. (Mendele's Law)
Empirical experiment: It is a trial and error method and it is performed by qualitative observations. It is not preferred because it does not give healthy results.
The Original Author: Mrs. Şerife (Erden) SARICA
