This exercise explores the nature of scientific questions and hypotheses. Before going to lab, read the explanatory paragraphs and then be prepared to present your ideas in the class discussion.
Lab Study A. Asking Questions
Scientists are characteristically curious and creative individuals whose curiosity is directed toward understanding the natural world. They use their study of previous research or personal observations of natural phenomena as a basis for asking questions about the underlying causes or reasons for these phenomena. For a question to be pursued by scientists, the phenomenon must be well defined and testable. The elements must be measurable and controllable.
There are limits to the ability of science to answer questions. Science is only one of many ways of knowing about the world in which we live. Consider, for example, this question: Do excessively high temperatures cause people to behave immorally? Can a scientist investigate this question? Temperature is certainly a well-defined, measurable, and controllable factor, but morality of behavior is not scientifically measurable. We probably could not even reach a consensus on the definition. Thus, there is no experiment that can be performed to test the question. Which of the following questions do you think can be answered scientifically?
1. Does playing football cause Lou Gehrig’s disease?
2. Did the consumption of seven cans of "energy drink" cause the heart attack of a motorcyclist in Australia?
3. Will global warming increase the length of allergy seasons?
4. How effective are extracts of marigold and rosemary as insect repellents?
5. Should it be illegal to prolong the life of a terminally ill patient?
How did you decide which questions can be answered scientifically?