1.7 Key Terms
Ad hominem argument: argument that claims the researchers are not objective and motivated by ideology or economic agenda. 1.6
Astronomy is defined as the study of the objects that lie beyond our planet Earth and the processes by which these objects interact with one another. 1.2
Critical analysis is the process of sorting information and making scientific inquiries about data. 1.6
Falsifiability: any initial hypothesis may be tested and proven false. 1.4
Historical science: what we observe has already happened in the universe and we can do nothing to change it. 1.3
Hypothesis: a newly proposed model or idea that can be tested. 1.3
Method: In science, a method begins with many observations over a period of time. 1.3
Model: After obtaining trends from observations, a model provides an approximation of the particular phenomena we want to understand, subject to further testing. 1.3
Objective observation is without personal bias and the same by all individuals. 1.4
Observational science: conducting tests by observing many samples of the kind of object we want to study and noting carefully how different samples vary. 1.3
Peer review: a careful examination by other scientists in the same field conducted in applications for project funding, as well as reports for publication in academic journals. 1.3
Progress report: a report that changes constantly as new techniques and instruments become available. In this book science is emphasized as an example. 1.2
Pseudoscience is a collection of ideas that may appear scientific but does not use the scientific method. 1.4
Qualitative observations are general or relative descriptions. 1.4
Quantitative measurement is expressed with a specific numerical value. 1.4
Science denial happens when people argue that established scientific theories are wrong, not based on scientific merit but rather on subjective ideology – such as for social, political, or economic reasons. 1.6
Subjective observation: based on a person’s feelings and beliefs and is unique to that individual. 1.4
