Question

Which scenario is an example of a scientific way of thinking?

A) A researcher writes to a government representative to convince the representative to encourage public participation in eclipse watching.
B) A researcher analyzes data on the motions of the Moon and Earth and then makes a prediction about when the next lunar eclipse will occur.
C) A researcher reviews images of lunar eclipses taken by professional photographers and then ranks them in order of which are the most beautiful.
D) A researcher reads several different articles on the best ways to enjoy a lunar eclipse and then decides which method is best.

Answer 1

The example of scientific thinking is the researcher analyzing motions of the Moon and Earth to predict lunar eclipses, as it involves data analysis and evidence-based predictions which are central to scientific methodology.

Step-by-step explanation:

The scenario that exemplifies a scientific way of thinking is B) A researcher analyzes data on the motions of the Moon and Earth and then makes a prediction about when the next lunar eclipse will occur. This process aligns with scientific methodologies, which involve observing, collecting data, analyzing that data, and making predictions based on the collected evidence.

For comparison, the other scenarios involve persuasion, subjective judgement, or personal methods of enjoyment, none of which are central to the scientific process. Scientific thinking often includes the formulation of hypotheses, which are then tested through experiments or further data analysis, as described in the referenced materials on the scientific method.