**What should you be able to do by the end of the chapter?**
By the end of the chapter, you should be able to:
* Contrast objective vs. subjective observations, and quantitative vs. qualitative observations.
* Identify a pseudoscience based on its lack of falsifiability.
* Contrast the methods used by Aristotle and Galileo to describe the natural environment.
* Explain the scientific method and apply it to a problem or question.
* Describe the foundations of modern geology, such as the principle of uniformitarianism.
* Contrast uniformitarianism and catastrophism.
* Explain why studying geology is important.
* Identify how Earth materials are transformed by rock cycle processes.
* Describe the steps involved in a reputable scientific study.
* Explain rhetorical arguments used by science deniers.
# 1.1 What is Science?
**What do scientists seek to understand?**
Scientists seek to understand *the fundamental principles that explain natural patterns and processes.*
**What does science provide other than a body of knowledge?**
Other than a body of knowledge, science provides *a means to evaluate and create new knowledge without bias.*
**Scientists use ... ... over ... ... to reach sound and logical conclusions.**
Scientists use *objective evidence* over *subjective evidence* to reach sound and logical conclusions.
**What is an observation?**
An observation is *the act of gathering new information from the senses or a scientific instrument.*
> **What are two characteristics of an objective observation?**
> Two characteristics of an objective observation are that:
> 1. It doesn't have any personal bias.
> 2. It can be made by everyone.
>
> **What are two characteristics of a subjective observation?**
> The two characteristics of a subjective observation are that:
> 1. They're based on a person's feelings and beliefs.
> 2. They're unique to an individual.
**What type of measurements are used to avoid bias?**
The type of measurements that are used to avoid bias are *quantitative measurements.*
> **What is a quantitative measurement?**
> A quantitative measurement is *a measurement expressed with a numerical value.*
> > [!example] Example of quantitative measurements
> > "This rock weights 40 kg and gives off light with a wavelength around 550 nm."
>
> **What is a qualitative observation?**
> A qualitative observation is *a general or relative description about some aspect of something.*
> > [!example] Example of qualitative measurements
> > "This rock is red and heavy."
**What are all scientific claims?**
All scientific claims are *falsifiable.*
> **What does it mean for a scientific claim to be falsifiable?**
> A scientific claim is falsifiable *when an initial hypothesis can be tested and proven false.*
>
> **When does a hypothesis become regarded as a reliable scientific theory?**
> A hypothesis becomes regarded as a reliable scientific theory *when false results, competing ideas, and possible variations are proven false.*
**What has been the driving foce behind many scientific careers?**
The driving force behind many scientific careers has been *proving current ideas wrong.*
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