GCSE Physics Specification

OCR B J259

Section P7.IaS3: How are scientific explanations developed?

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#P7.IaS3.1

use ideas about correlation and cause to:

a) identify a correlation in data presented as text, in a table, or as a graph

b) distinguish between a correlation and a cause-effect link

c) suggest factors that might increase the chance of a particular outcome in a given situation, but do not invariably lead to it

d) explain why individual cases do not provide convincing evidence for or against a correlation

e) identify the presence (or absence) of a plausible mechanism as reasonable grounds for accepting (or rejecting) a claim that a factor is a cause of an outcome

#P7.IaS3.2

describe and explain examples of scientific methods and theories that have developed over time and how theories have been modified when new evidence became available

#P7.IaS3.3

describe in broad outline the ‘peer review’ process, in which new scientific claims are evaluated by other scientists

#P7.IaS3.4

use a variety of models (including representational, spatial, descriptive, computational and mathematical models) to:

- solve problems
- make predictions
- develop scientific explanations and understanding
- identify limitations of models