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Cards In This Set
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Science - attempt to discover patterns in nature and apply that knowledge to predict how those patterns will work in future scenarios.
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There are many specific branches of science that deal with one ad hoc issue, EG biological science, environmental science, etc.
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Scientific data - facts obtained through repeated observations and measurements.
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This type of data can be about almost anything, as long as it is collected in a methodic, precise way.
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Scientific hypotheses - an attempt at explaining something that scientists have observed in nature.
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Hypotheses will undergo rigorous testing to see if they are or aren't true, they will be constantly revised until an accurate statement can be agreed upon.
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Scientific theory - a hypothesis that has been repeatedly tested and verified.
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While a theory has been heavily tested, and mostly agreed upon, they are still subject to change, and not necessarily correct.
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Scientific law - a description of a pattern that is found happening in nature over and over again.
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Though repeatedly observed and agreed upon, laws can be wrong, and are subject to change if any different observations are made in the future.
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Scientific methods - The techniques scientists use to collect and gather data in an accurate way so as to test hypotheses, theories, and laws.
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The general method is this, observe something, ask a question about it, attempt to answer the question based on what you already know, test to see if you're correct, revise hypothesis as necessary.
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Inductive reasoning - Reasoning that because what you observed happened, it will happen again under different circumstances.
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This sort of reasoning can never be one-hundred percent correct, it can at best have a strong probability of being right.
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Deductive reasoning - Reasoning that applies general rules to specific situations.
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This sort of reasoning, if the premises are true, will always be accurate.
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Frontier science - Science based off of new findings that have not undergone rigid testing yet.
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This is the sort of science that is usually on the news for still being controversial.
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Consensus science - Science that has been accurately tested time and time again, and is universally agreed upon.
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Very reliable science that most experts will agree upon, rarely newsmaking due to its neutral level.
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System - A set of mechanisms that interact in a predictable fashion and can be isolate for individual observation.
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Systems are generally made up of the following parts; inputs, flows, stores, and outputs. Each part will interact to make the next part work.
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Feedback loop - When a system's output is placed back into the system as an input to change the system.
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Feedback loops are in place to keep the system from leaning too far in one direction and so straining the system until it breaks.
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Positive feedback loop - A feedback loop that causes the system to gain more of what was put back in.
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An example of this would be investing money in stocks, you put more money in the system so you can receive more money.
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Negative feedback loop - A feedback loop that causes the system to use less of what was put back in.
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Reusing glass bottles is an example of this, you use the same glass bottles over and over again, so you don't need to buy more.
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Synergistic interaction - interaction in which 2 parts work together to do more work than they could do in their combined individual efforts.
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It's basically instead of adding 2+3 to get five, you multiply 2 and 3 to get 6, you use them together instead of individually.
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