The Scientific Method

The process of scientific problem solving is called the sci­entific method. The scientific method was developed by the Italian scientist Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) and the English philosopher Francis Bacon (1561-1626). This method is used as a general rule and is not strictly followed in its purest form. The five steps of the scientific method are:

1 Recognize the problem.

2 Form a hypothesis (an educated guess) about the correct answer.

3 Make a prediction.

4 Experiment to test your prediction.

5 Make a general rule that will apply, or organize the hypothesis, prediction, and results of your experiment.

Scientists and technologists face the same traps in trying to solve problems. Everyone has a set of ideas about how the world works. These ideas often block new ideas or restrict our thinking to one path. Scientists must keep an open mind about their investigations; this is important because their results have to be based on scientific facts. Scientists can't let their results be changed by what they think the results should be. Another important reason for keeping an open mind is that many scientific discoveries happen by accident!

All scientists have a few very important things in common. They have investigating minds, they are willing to perform experiments carefully, and they don't let themselves be influenced by anything but proven facts. Their experiments have to be done so that if someone else performs the exact same experiment, he or she will get the same results.

Завдання 15 а) Прочитайте та перекладіть поданий нижче абзац.

An acronym is a word formed from the initial letters of the words in a phrase. The acronym SEARCH uses the main problem solving steps and adds a few extras. It was developed by a group of students to help them remember the problem – solving steps.

б) Вставте одне з запропонованих слів (одне з них використо-вується декілька разів) у кожний пропуск:

real-life, to test, information, ideas, problem, idea

S tate the ……………in your own words.

E xplore all ………..and ……………….possible.

A pply the best ……. …….and ………it. If it doesn’t work.

R etry the ……….. or

C hange your …….and ………it.

H ook what you have learned to ……. - ……… problems.

 

Завдання 16 Підберіть слова та словосполучення, які називають можливі для вас джерела інформації:

 

a)

 

б)