Understanding the Nature of Science will help you think like a scientist

Understanding the essential characteristics of science can lead to acceptance of the scientific enterprise and the development of scientific habits of mind- mental habits that help you to navigate uncertainty and solve complex problems.

What is this term Nature of Science?

The Nature of Science (NOS) is a term that is used in primary and secondary school education. It is an attempt to accurately and simply portray the philosophy and culture of the scientific enterprise. I believe that understanding of NOS is essential for all- and a prerequisite for those who wish to solve complex problems by developing scientific habits of mind. In fact, scientific habits of mind are directly informed by NOS.

So, what is the Nature of Science?

I’m going to copy/paste an excellent table from a seminal work in science education, The Role and Character of the Nature of Science in Science Education:

TABLE I 

A consensus view of the nature of science objectives extracted from eight international science standards documents. 

• Scientific knowledge while durable, has a tentative character. 
• Scientific knowledge relies heavily, but not entirely, on observation, experimental evidence, rational arguments, and skepticism. 
• There is no one way to do science (therefore, there is no universal step-by-step scientific method) 
• Science is an attempt to explain natural phenomena 
• Laws and theories serve different roles in science, therefore students should note that theories do not become laws even with additional evidence. 
• People from all cultures contribute to science 
• New knowledge must be reported clearly and openly 
• Scientists require accurate record keeping, peer review, and replicability 
• Observations are theory-laden 
• Scientists are creative 
• The history of science reveals both an evolutionary and revolutionary character 
• Science is part of social and cultural traditions 
• Science and technology impact each other 
• Scientific ideas are affected by their social & historical milieu

It is the work of primary and secondary science educators to instill these conceptions of science into their students. However, in many cases, these perceptions do not ingrain or fade as they reach adulthood. I believe that instructors of adults, specifically those who focus on training employees for the goals of operational effectiveness, should have a strong understanding of NOS and convey it to those they train.

Empowering people to solve complex problems requires that they have the mental tools and habits to do so. An essential part of developing those capabilities is by building a firm understanding of the greatest problem-solving enterprise that humans have developed and refined for centuries- Science.

Read more about Scientific Habits of Mind here.