What relationships exist among reasoning, evidence, and explanation? (1 point) Evidence is used to connect the explanation and the reasoning. Reasoning is used to connect the evidence and the explanation. Evidence is associated directly with the explanation, but not reasoning. Reasoning is associated directly with the explanation, but not evidence.
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: Reasoning is used to connect the evidence and the explanation.
Explanation (300 words):
In scientific and analytical thinking, reasoning, evidence, and explanation are interdependent elements that work together to support claims and conclusions.
- Evidence refers to the data, facts, observations, or information gathered through research or experimentation. It forms the foundation upon which conclusions are based.
- Explanation is the claim or conclusion that provides an understanding of why or how something happens. It is the answer to a question or the interpretation of a phenomenon.
- Reasoning is the logical process that connects the evidence to the explanation. It involves interpreting the evidence and justifying how it supports the explanation. Reasoning acts as the bridge between what is known (evidence) and what is claimed (explanation).
For example, in a science experiment, if students observe that plants grow better in sunlight (evidence), they might explain that sunlight provides energy needed for photosynthesis (explanation). The reasoning would involve showing how the presence of sunlight enables photosynthesis, which in turn promotes plant growth—thus connecting the data with the scientific explanation.
Choosing “Reasoning is used to connect the evidence and the explanation” reflects this accurate relationship. Without reasoning, the link between evidence and explanation becomes weak or unclear. Similarly, explanations without evidence are unsupported claims, and evidence without explanation offers no meaningful interpretation. Therefore, reasoning plays a critical role in structuring arguments and validating explanations based on data.
This model—commonly used in science education—is known as the Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) framework, and it is essential for developing strong critical thinking and communication skills in both academic and real-world contexts.