Types of knowledge

1. Types of Knowledge
Mrs. Kay

2. EMPIRICAL KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge gained using the primary senses
– seeing, tasting, feeling, hearing or smelling.
Sometimes instruments are used as aids to
our senses.
ex: the computer is black.

3. Revealed knowledge
knowledge we accept on faith
Ex: All living animals today are descended
from those on board Noah’s Ark.

4. Authoritative Knowledge
knowledge we gain from experts
Ex: lawyers, doctors, people with
credentials.

5. Rational Knowledge
based on what are considered to be rational/
logical truths
Ex: If x=y and y=z then x must equal z

6. Intuitive Knowledge
knowledge possessed without knowing
where it comes from.
Ex: a mother instinctively knows when her
baby is in need.

7. OBSERVATION
Observations are always empirical.
Qualitative observations involve simple
descriptions. Ex: color
Quantitative observations involve
amounts/numbers.
Ex: recording the temperature.

8. INTERPRETATION
involve reasoning based on observations
Included in the analysis section of a lab
report
Indirect form of knowledge that builds on a
concept or an experience to further describe
or explain an observation.

9. Observation or interpretation?
Noticing light and heat from burning
magnesium
Observation
The O
2
(g) molecules collide with magnesium
atoms and electron removal causes the ions
of magnesium and oxygen to form.
Interpretation

10. Variables
Scientists use an experiment to search for cause
and effect relationships in nature
Independent (x-axis): is a factor that is manipulated
in an experiment. The experimenter controls whether
or not subjects are exposed to the independent
variable
Dependent (y-axis): is measured to determine if the
manipulation of the independent variable had any
effect.
Controlled: Property that is kept constant throughout
an experiment.

11. Experiment: A certain mass of magnesium
is burned and is compared to the mass of
product formed.
What is the…
Responding: mass of product (we measure
how much is left)
Controlled: composition of air, initial temp.,
amount of air available…
Manipulated: mass of magnesium (we
decide how much is burned)

12. Scientific Law
Statements of major concepts based on
empirical knowledge
Ex: the law of conservation of mass. In a
phys. or chem. Change the initial mass = the
final mass
Generalization: statements that summarize
a limited number of empirical results. More
broad.

13. Questions
Pg. 29 #1-3 (Nelson)
Pg. 32 #7-8
Read pg. 43-45