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Although many have taken science classes throughout the course of their studies, people often have incorrect or misleading ideas about some of the most important and basic principles in science. Most students have heard of hypotheses, theories, and laws, but what do these terms really mean? Prior to reading this section, consider what you have learned about these terms before. What do these terms mean to you? What do you read that contradicts or supports what you thought? What is a Fact?A fact is a basic statement established by experiment or observation. All facts are true under the specific conditions of the observation. What is a Hypothesis?One of the most common terms used in science classes is a "hypothesis". The word can have many different definitions, depending on the context in which it is being used:
What is a Theory?The United States National Academy of Sciences describes what a theory is as follows: "Some scientific explanations are so well established that no new evidence is likely to alter them. The explanation becomes a scientific theory. In everyday language a theory means a hunch or speculation. Not so in science. In science, the word theory refers to a comprehensive explanation of an important feature of nature supported by facts gathered over time. Theories also allow scientists to make predictions about as yet unobserved phenomena." "A scientific theory is a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world, based on a body of facts that have been repeatedly confirmed through observation and experimentation. Such fact-supported theories are not "guesses" but reliable accounts of the real world. The theory of biological evolution is more than "just a theory." It is as factual an explanation of the universe as the atomic theory of matter (stating that everything is made of atoms) or the germ theory of disease (which states that many diseases are caused by germs). Our understanding of gravity is still a work in progress. But the phenomenon of gravity, like evolution, is an accepted fact. Note some key features of theories that are important to understand from this description:
What is a Law?Scientific laws are similar to scientific theories in that they are principles that can be used to predict the behavior of the natural world. Both scientific laws and scientific theories are typically well-supported by observations and/or experimental evidence. Usually scientific laws refer to rules for how nature will behave under certain conditions, frequently written as an equation. Scientific theories are more overarching explanations of how nature works and why it exhibits certain characteristics. As a comparison, theories explain why we observe what we do and laws describe what happens. For example, around the year 1800, Jacques Charles and other scientists were working with gases to, among other reasons, improve the design of the hot air balloon. These scientists found, after many, many tests, that certain patterns existed in the observations on gas behavior. If the temperature of the gas is increased, the volume of the gas increased. This is known as a natural law. A law is a relationship that exists between variables in a group of data. Laws describe the patterns we see in large amounts of data, but do not describe why the patterns exist. What is a Belief?A belief is a statement that is not scientifically provable. Beliefs may or may not be incorrect; they just are outside the realm of science to explore. Laws vs. TheoriesA common misconception is that scientific theories are rudimentary ideas that will eventually graduate into scientific laws when enough data and evidence has accumulated. A theory does not change into a scientific law with the accumulation of new or better evidence. Remember, theories are explanations and laws are patterns we see in large amounts of data, frequently written as an equation. A theory will always remain a theory; a law will always remain a law. Video \(\PageIndex{1}\): What’s the difference between a scientific law and theory?Summary
What is the relationship between hypothesis and theory?A hypothesis is an assumption made before any research has been done. It is formed so that it can be tested to see if it might be true. A theory is a principle formed to explain the things already shown in data.
What is the best statement of the relationship between a hypothesis and a theory quizlet?A hypothesis must be testable and can be disproven, whereas a theory is testable but cannot be disproven. A theory is an "educated guess" as to the explanation of a phenomenon.
Which statement best characterizes the relationship between a theory and hypotheses?Which statement best characterizes the relationship between a theory and a hypothesis? A theory may generate one or more hypotheses.
What is the relationship between a theory and a hypothesis in research quizlet?What is the relationship between a theory and a hypothesis in research? A theory is used to generate hypotheses in research. Why is it important that research studies be replicated by other scientists? If the findings of a study are repeated, confidence in the accuracy of those findings increases.
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