nature of science (nos). what is nos about? what is science? how do scientists do their work? what...
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Study of NOS The study of NOS informed by: Philosophy of Science History of Science Sociology of Science Science EducationTRANSCRIPT
Nature of Science (NOS)
What is NOS about?
What is science?How do scientists do their work?What is the nature of scientific knowledge?How does scientific knowledge develop?Is science objective? (What is objectivity?)How does science differ from other ways of knowing?
Study of NOS
The study of NOS informed by:Philosophy of ScienceHistory of ScienceSociology of ScienceScience Education
What do we know about NOS?
Science cannot be singularly (and definitively) defined because it is interpreted in different ways by different people.Methods such as the NOS card sort and surveys encourage students to think specifically about their views on science.Scientists, science educators & philosophers of science have proposed some consensus views on NOS.
Consensus Views on NOS
Empirically-basedScientific knowledge is based on evidence.
TestableScientific ideas can be theoretically falsified through evidentiary tests or predicted observations.
Tentative, yet ReliableScientific ideas can change given new data or new interpretations
Consensus NOS Views
Culturally-embeddedScientists & scientific ideas are influenced by the society from they arise.
Creative Scientists employ creativity in posing questions, collecting data, and interpreting data. (What does this suggest about “The Scientific Method?)
Consensus NOS Views
Theory/Law DistinctionScientific theories are robust, empirically supported explanations of natural phenomena. Scientific laws are perceived regularities regarding the natural world. Therefore, theories never become laws. Laws are typically more narrow in focus than theories.
Provide examples from the history of science to support…
Empirically-basedTestableTentativeCulturally-embeddedCreative