Discovery vs. Hypothesis-Based Science
Science Inquiry, a search for information and explanation, often focusing on
specific questions.
Two Types:
Discovery science, also called descriptive science, is mostly about
describing nature.
- Describes natural structures and processes as accurately as possible
through careful observation and analysis of data. Discovery science
for example has built our understanding of cell structure and classification
of the diverse species on earth.
- Recording observations in the form of qualitative and quantitative data
is the foundation of this kind of experimenting. Jane Goodall, for example,
spent decades recording her observations of chimpanzee behavior.
- Discovery science can lead to important conclusions based on a type of
logic called induction, where we derive generalizations from a large number
of specific observations.
Hypothesis-based science is mostly about explaining nature.
- Often stimulated by discovery science this type is more based on the
why? and what caused it? type of questions.
- Involves making predictions that can be tested by making additional
observation or performing experiments... a hypothesis that is a tentative
answer to a well formed question, an explanation on trial.
- A type of logic called deduction is built into hypothesis based science.
In deductive reasoning, the logic flows in the opposite direction as
inductive from general to specific, If.... then.... because....
- A controlled experiment is often then created to test this hypothesis,
where experimental groups are compared with a control group ideally with
only one differing factor to be tested.
- Hypothesis based science can lead to theories...