Critical Thinking Skills and Doing Science

Elements of the scientific method:1. Observe patterns

2. Ask questions

3. Formulate hypotheses that make specific predictions

4. Perform experiments or observations to test hypotheses

Adapted from “Learning How To Do Science” 3/12/2011 Frontiers in Science Presentation by Fred C. Dyer, Department of Zoology

Starting Point: OBSERVATIONS

Description of PATTERN and PROCESS

• You see a pattern in nature

• You also observe other information that may help you understand the processes underlying it

Adapted from “Learning How To Do Science” 3/12/2011 Frontiers in Science Presentation by Fred C. Dyer, Department of Zoology

• To understand processes, ask focused QUESTIONS

Questions

Write three questions based on

your observations.

Refining questions about pattern

Sometimes it helps first to find out more details about the thing we are trying to understand:• Often this involves asking quantitative questions

• What percentage of times do fish jump vs. shoot? • What is success rate for jumping vs. shooting?

• Just how accurate are the fish?

• It may also be useful to ask qualitative questions• For example: make a detailed list of the prey types that the animal feeds

on, or the habitats where it feeds

• It will not be possible to get the information needed to answer ALL the

questions.

Adapted from “Learning How To Do Science” 3/12/2011 Frontiers in Science Presentation by Fred C. Dyer, Department of Zoology

Answering the questions

Formulate hypotheses: • A hypothesis is a plausible guess as to answer• Hypotheses are in the form of statements• Usually it is possible to generate several reasonable

hypotheses

Why do archer fish sometimes jump and sometimes shoot? Write down at least three distinct hypotheses that would answer that question

Adapted from “Learning How To Do Science” 3/12/2011 Frontiers in Science Presentation by Fred C. Dyer, Department of Zoology

Testing Hypotheses

A hypothesis is a possible explanation for a phenomenon

To “explain” something means you understand the cause

What does it mean to say that A causes B?•It means that B’s occurrence depends upon A occurring •It also means that there is some material connection that mediates the causal relationship between A and B

Testing a hypothesis means gathering evidence to determine whether the hypothesis is correct.

Adapted from “Learning How To Do Science” 3/12/2011 Frontiers in Science Presentation by Fred C. Dyer, Department of Zoology

Steps so far….

In the following example, write down:• Observations about particular natural patterns• Questions about the causes/explanations for these

patterns• Hypotheses about the possible causes of the

phenomenon• Predictions that each hypothesis makes if it is true• An additional observation or experiment that you

could do that would allow you to test this prediction

Adapted from “Learning How To Do Science” 3/12/2011 Frontiers in Science Presentation by Fred C. Dyer, Department of Zoology

Generalizations About Scientific Hypotheses

• A good hypothesis:• Is consistent with other known facts about nature• Can potentially be falsified (proven wrong)

• Uncertainty always exists:• You can’t prove a hypothesis right, you can only fail to falsify it: other

hypotheses might make same prediction• But you may not be able to falsify it with absolute certainty: failure to

see effect predicted by hypothesis may occur because experimental conditions weren’t present

• Value of considering multiple hypotheses:• There are often multiple causes for phenomena• Considering multiple causes helps in designing experimental controls

Adapted from “Learning How To Do Science” 3/12/2011 Frontiers in Science Presentation by Fred C. Dyer, Department of Zoology

Critical Thinking Skills

Critical thinking skills are valuable tools that will

help students be successful in all

aspects of their lives.