Scientific Inquiry

Scientific Inquiry
Scientific inquiry also refers to the activities through which students develop knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, as well as an understanding of how scientists study the natural world." Scientific inquiry is a process of developing an explanation of a question in the natural world (or universe) by testing, investigating and collecting data that will either support or refute your original idea of what's going on. For example you could say that fast food cause obesity and would be able to find studies that can support your claim.
An everyday assumption is something that you assume to be the case, even without proof. For example, people might make the assumption that you're a nerd if you wear glasses, even though that's not true.
An assumption is something we take for granted or presuppose. Usually it is something we previously learned and do not question. It is part of our system of beliefs. We assume our beliefs to be true and use them to interpret the world about us. If we believe that it is dangerous to walk late at night in big cities and we are staying in Chicago, we will infer that it is dangerous to go for a walk late at night. We take for granted our belief that it is dangerous to walk late at night in big cities. If our belief is a sound one, our assumption is sound. If our belief is not sound, our assumption is not sound. Beliefs, and hence assumptions, can be unjustified or justified, depending upon whether we do or do not have good reasons for them. Consider this example: “I heard a scratch at the door. I got up to let the cat in.” My inference was based on the assumption (my prior belief) that only the cat makes that noise, and that he makes it only when he wants to be let in.


References
https://www.google.com/#q=define+scientific+inquiry
Distinguishing Between Inferences and Assumptions. (n.d.). Distinguishing Between Inferences and Assumptions. Retrieved September 16, 2014, from...