Overview
This lesson discusses the scientific attitudes and values that help scientists make discoveries and solve problems, and how these traits can benefit everyone in everyday life.
Scientific Attitudes and Values
- Scientific attitudes and values are behaviors or characteristics scientists should possess.
- Curiosity is the desire to learn, ask questions, and discover new things.
- Objectivity involves gathering true observations without bias or influence from emotions.
- Open-mindedness is the willingness to accept and consider new ideas and information.
- Honesty means being truthful in reporting observations and results, without claiming others’ work.
- Humility is admitting when one is wrong and accepting responsibility for mistakes.
- Patience is maintaining a good attitude while waiting for results, as scientific work often takes time.
- Determination refers to being persistent and willing to finish tasks despite difficulties.
- Acceptance of failure means seeing failure as a way to learn and finding new solutions when things do not work out.
Application Examples
- Relying on real observations and not emotions shows objectivity.
- Listening and respecting others’ ideas demonstrates open-mindedness.
- Consistently working despite failures shows determination.
- Recording data accurately reflects honesty.
- Asking questions displays curiosity.
- Admitting mistakes demonstrates humility.
- Waiting calmly for results exemplifies patience.
- Finding new solutions after failure shows acceptance of failure.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Curiosity — The desire to learn, ask questions, and seek new knowledge.
- Objectivity — The practice of making unbiased and emotion-free observations and judgments.
- Open-mindedness — Readiness to accept new ideas and suggestions.
- Honesty — Truthfulness in reporting observations and results.
- Humility — Willingness to admit mistakes and accept imperfection.
- Patience — Ability to wait calmly for results and persist through delays.
- Determination — Persistence and willpower to complete tasks despite challenges.
- Acceptance of Failure — Recognizing failure as an opportunity to find new solutions.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Practice identifying scientific attitudes in real-life situations.
- Participate in class activities by explaining which attitudes are displayed in given scenarios.