Scientists should possess certain important attitudes!​

What is attitude?​

What attitudes help you think scientifically?

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Always wanting to learn more. This is a key attitude for scientists and anyone who wants to become better at something. ​

What are you curious about?

Curiosity

Good scientists always report their finding truthfully. This is especially important when results go against previous ideas.

Is honesty an important human attitude?

Honesty

Coming up with inventive ways to solve problems!

Creativity

Capable of accepting new ideas.​ It should always be paired with skepticism though.​

Open-mindedness

An attitude of doubt.

Always question claims that seem like they don't have good evidence. ​

Skepticism

​Rules that enable you to know right from wrong. In science we want to follow rules and not damage the nature we study.

Ethics

​What you expect to find can influence what you find.

Awareness of bias​

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There are 3 basic types of bias that you should be aware of.

1. Personal Bias

2. Cultural Bias

3. Experimental Bias​

​Awareness of bias.

This comes from your likes and dislikes.

What are things you like that you think everyone should?

Personal Bias

This comes from the customs or culture in which you grew up. ​

Does your family have any customs?

Cultural Bias

A mistake in the design of an experiment that makes a particular result more likely. ​

Have you ever made a mistake with something you are usually good at?

Experimental Bias

What is scientific reasoning?

It is thinking critically and logically to connect evidence and explanations.

Science reasoning

What is logic?

This is when you draw conclusions based on available evidence.

***No personal beliefs or feelings are involved.****​

Objective Reasoning

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This is a decision or conclusion based on your feelings or beliefs. Evidence is likely ignored or not given much importance.

Subjective Reasoning

A general to specific idea.

EXAMPLE:

• Earthquakes happen where mostly where plates meet.

• California has many earthquakes.

• California must be where plates meet.​

Deductive Reasoning

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A specific observation to make a generalization.

Example:

• Ants follow paths to sources of food.

• They return to their nest on the same path.

• They must be able to communicate to follow the same path. ​

Inductive Reasoning

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A conclusion based on too little data.

Not logically connecting data or make leaps or assumptions in logic. ​

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Have you ever thought something was one way only to realize you were completely missing some information?

Faulty resoning.