Various research methods have been used in science depending on the various contexts. This implies that certain methods or inferences may be more frequently used in earth science. The purpose of the study are to explore the contexts of earth science, and the inferences frequently used in earth science. The context earth science research is quite different from that of other areas of natural science in terms of its time scale, space scale, accessibility, complexity, and controllability. The purpose of earth science research is twofold: historical and causal. The inferences frequently used in earth science are abduction and prediction. Abductive inferences go from the resulting state to controlling state. Predictive inferences go from hypothesis to expected data.

• Kim, Chan-Jong(Department of Science Education, Chongju National University of Education)