Science: Its

Structure and
Nature
ANABELLE A. ARENA
PROFESSOR
 What is science? Science as:

 Science is
commonly
associated
with an
accumulation
of facts,
concepts and Product Process
theories. It is an organized and a dynamic way of
even confused rapidly changing acquiring, using and
with body of knowledge refining that body of
technology .
knowledge
Science as a Product

 Facts which are truths and therefore can not be

questioned or doubted
 Generalizations and theories which are subject
to error and likely to change
Science as a Process

 A way of investigating which involves questions,

observations, experimentations and predictions.
 A way of thinking which involves inductive and
deductive reasoning
Science as product
FACT GENERALIZATION
 Is a statement of one of the
 is a recognition and patterns of relationships among
observation of a single facts. Many generalizations are
event. It is the based upon so many
foundation of scientific observations (facts) which are all
knowledge consistent with observational
error. Such generalizations, with
their empirical basis are given the
dignified name of “laws” and
“principles”
HYPOTHESIS THEORY
 Is an untested  Is a speculation that has
speculation. been extensively tested,
 It is a tentative idea fits all known facts, and
about certain has no reasonable rival.
relationships which It is arrived at in an
connect observable inductive way from a set
events as these occur of facts.
MODEL
 Is a device for testing
ideas and predicting
from hypotheses. It is
often abstract and even
purely imaginary. It is
arrived at in deductive
way from a theory.
 Science as Process

 It is both a way of investigating and a way of thinking.

 Science as Process

 It is a way of investigating. This involves questions, observations,

experimentations and predictions
 Why?
 Where?
 What for?
 When?
 How?
 It is a way of thinking which involves inductive and deductive
reasoning
 As a process, science is: “Learning how to learn”.
Inductive reasoning starts from the
specific to general

.
Generalization

from specific to general

Abstraction and
Inductive
organization of data
Reasoning
Comparison and
differentiation

Presentation of
raw data
Deductive reasoning starts from the
general to specific

.
Generalization

from general to specific

Exploration
Deductive
Reasoning

Application

Evaluation
 Product

is an organized and rapid

changing body of knowledge

Science
Process

is a dynamic way of
acquiring, using and refining
the body of knowledge
 Implications of Science as Product
and Process

 Science as a product is an ever- changing body of knowledge.

Science as a process is an on going process of investigation and
thinking. As such, it should help our young learners to expect
change and to have a positive attitude for each change.
 Science as both product and process should be reflected in our
teaching- learning activities. It should be emphasized that there is
no single and best method of teaching science. Different science
topics call for different methods of teaching. Regardless of the
method used, the processes of science should be emphasized.
Science Process Skills
 What is sps?

 How a scientist works, thinks and studies problem.

 A way of investigation that involves specific skills which
require the following steps:
~ planning course of actions.
~ carrying out activities.
~ collecting data.
~ organizing & interpreting data.
~ reaching a conclusion.
The Process Skills

 Observing
 Using one or more of the five senses to gather
information. May include the use of equipment

 Communicating
 Giving or exchanging information verbally,
orally and/ or in writing
The Process Skills

 Estimating
 Approximately calculating a quantity or value
based on judgment.

 Measuring
 Comparing objects to arbitrary units that may
not be standardized
The Process Skills

 Collecting Data
 Gathering information about observations and
measurements in systematic way.

 Classifying
 Grouping or ordering objects or events according
to an established scheme. Based on observations.
The Process Skills

 Inferring
 Developing ideas based on observation. Requires
evaluation and judgment based on past
experiences

 Predicting
 Forming an idea of an expected result. Based
on inferences.
The Process Skills

 Inferring
 Developing ideas based on observation. Requires
evaluation and judgment based on past
experiences

 Predicting
 Forming an idea of an expected result. Based
on inferences.
The Process Skills

 Making Graphs
 Converting numerical quantities into a diagram
that shows the relationships among the quantities.

 Hypothesizing
 Stating a problem to be solved as a question
that can be tested by an experiment
The Process Skills

 Controlling Variables
 Manipulating one factor that may affect the
outcome of an event while other factors are held
constant.
 Defining Operationally
 Stating specific information about an object or
phenomena based on experiences with it.
The Process Skills

 Investigating
 Using observations to collect and analyze data
to draw conclusions in order to solve a problem
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SCIENCE
PROCESS SKILLS AND THINKING SKILLS.

 SCIENCE PROCESS  THINKING SKILLS

SKILLS
-CHARACTERIZE

-TO COMPARE
OBSERVING

-TO RELATE
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SCIENCE
PROCESS SKILLS AND THINKING SKILLS.

-CHARACTERIZE

- TO COMPARE AND
 CLASSIFY TO CONTRAST

- TO COLLECT AND
CLASSIFY
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SCIENCE
PROCESS SKILLS AND THINKING SKILLS.

 MEASURING
- TO RELATE
AND
USING
NUMBERS -TO COMPARE AND
TO CONTRAST
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SCIENCE
PROCESS SKILLS AND THINKING SKILLS.

- TO RELATE

 MAKING - TO COMPARE AND

TO CONTRAST
INFERENCES
- TO ANALYZE

- INFERRING
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SCIENCE
PROCESS SKILLS AND THINKING SKILLS.

- TO RELATE

PREDICTING
- MENTAL IMAGE
References:

 Modernizing Science Instruction in Elementary

School. “Science : Its Structure and Nature”
pp.21-29