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The ultimate goal of science:

Defensible explanatory accounts of the way the natural

world works.

The ultimate goal of science:

Defensible explanatory accounts of the way the natural

world works.

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How do various forms of scientific knowledge contribute

to this goal?

How do various forms of scientific knowledge contribute

to this goal? Theories Laws Models Hypotheses

Theories Laws Models Hypotheses

Models:generators of ideas to testModels:generators of ideas to test The most broadly applied of all forms

of knowledge They are representations of how

something is structured or how something works

They are the “testable” subsets of theories

Note! People typically believe models are only the outcome of investigation, but their primary purpose in science is to generate novel and productive ideas to test.

The most broadly applied of all forms of knowledge

They are representations of how something is structured or how something works

They are the “testable” subsets of theories

Note! People typically believe models are only the outcome of investigation, but their primary purpose in science is to generate novel and productive ideas to test.

increases

negatively impacts

?

increases

positively influences

Human

activity

Soil

compaction

Nutrient

content

Drainage

Insect

population

diversity

Aeration

Available

oxygen for

respiration

Hypotheses-- Are testable “pieces” of models

Hypotheses-- Are testable “pieces” of models

If, in my current model, _____ is true, then I would expect ____ to happen in

my study because________.

If, in my current model, _____ is true, then I would expect ____ to happen in

my study because________.

increases

negatively impacts

?

increases

positively influences

Human

activity

Soil

compaction

Nutrient

content

Drainage

Insect

population

diversity

Aeration

Available

oxygen for

respiration

Theories= explanation/ causeTheories= explanation/ cause Explanations of how

some aspect of the natural world works (statements of cause or underlying mechanisms)

They make statements that go beyond what is directly observable

Explanations of how some aspect of the natural world works (statements of cause or underlying mechanisms)

They make statements that go beyond what is directly observable

Laws=descriptionLaws=description Descriptions of relationships in systems in

the natural world Laws do not offer explanations Note! Theories never “become” laws, but

theories can help explain why laws seem to “work”

Descriptions of relationships in systems in the natural world

Laws do not offer explanations Note! Theories never “become” laws, but

theories can help explain why laws seem to “work”

Theories Laws