Reiss, Michael; (2024) The Nature of Science. In: Purves, R and Himonides, E, (eds.) Learning to Teach Science in the Secondary School A Companion to School Experience. Routledge: Abingdon, UK.

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Abstract

The nature of science is a controversial area and there are several competing understandings of how scientific knowledge is produced. This chapter explains what is meant by the terms ‘working scientifically’ and ‘the nature of science’. It examines what scientists study and considers how science is undertaken. It looks at whether science always proceeds by the objective and rigorous testing of hypotheses, or whether there are other factors at play in deciding whether one scientific view comes to hold sway within the scientific community over alternative views. It compares ‘real science’ with ‘school science’. Pupils generally have rather a limited understanding of the nature of science and tasks are presented to help deepen their understanding. The chapter should enable the reader to: • distinguish between alternative understandings of how science is carried out; • contrast science as undertaken by scientists and science as undertaken in school science lessons; • help pupils develop a deeper understanding of the nature of science.

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