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Scientific Method Notes

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29 views17 pages

Scientific Method Notes

N/A

Uploaded by

taezajerlynangel
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Scientific Method and

Experimental Design
What is Science?
What is Science? What is
biology?
 Science – an organized way of using
evidence to learn about the natural world
 Biology – the study of the living world
 Skills Used By Scientists:
• Observations skills – scientists use their senses
(sight, hearing, touch, smell) to observe nature
• Hypothesizing skills – scientists attempt to explain
observations by forming hypotheses or ideas
• Analyzing and Interpreting skills – scientists use
prior knowledge and experience to analyze and
interpret data collected during experiments
How Scientists Work
How Scientists Work
 Using the Scientific Method
• State the Problem/Ask a Question
• Form a Hypothesis & Make a Prediction
• Test Hypothesis with Experiment
• Record and Analyze Results
• Draw a Conclusion Based on Analysis
• Publish and Repeat Investigations
Writing Hypotheses &
Predictions
 Hypothesis – a possible explanation for a
set of observations or possible answer to a
scientific question
 Prediction – a statement, based on the
hypothesis that suggests the basic idea for
an experiment
 Usually an if…, then… statement
Writing A Hypothesis
Practice
Write a possible hypothesis and prediction for
each of the following observations.
1. The plants in Mr. Smith’s living room are large,
healthy and green but the plants in Mr. Smith’s
dining room are small and yellowish in color.
2. All of the fish in the classroom fish tank are
healthy except for the algae eaters that keep
dying.
3. There are only a few un-popped kernels in the
popcorn that has been stored in the kitchen but
a lot of kernels left in the popcorn that has been
stored in the basement.
Designing Controlled
Experiments
* Whenever possible, an experiment should be designed
to have only ONE variable that is changed at a time.
(AKA: Controlled Experiment)
 Controlled Variable/s – the variable/s that are
purposely kept the same
 Manipulated Variable – the ONE variable that is
deliberately changed (also called independent)
 Responding Variable – the variable that is observed
and that changes in response to the manipulated
variable (also called dependent)
 Experimental Group – the group in which the
manipulated variable is changed
 Control or Control Group – the group used as a
standard for comparison for the experimental group
Controlled Experiment
Practice
Hypothesis: Tomato plants given fertilizer will produce
more tomatoes than plants that are not fertilized.

Plant A Plant B

* Both plants are given the same soil, amount of water


and sun, temperature, pot size, and growth time.
* Plant B is fertilized once a week.
What are the controlled variables, the manipulated
variable, and the responding variable?
Which is the control and the experimental group?
Answers
 Controlled Variables – soil, amount of
water and sun, temperature, pot size,
and growth time
 Manipulated Variable – fertilizer
 Responding Variable – # of tomatoes

 Control – Plant A
 Experimental Group – Plant B
Why change only one
variable?

Plant A Plant B

5 hours of sunlight per day 7 hours of sunlight per day


l L of water every 4 days l L of water every 2 days
quart sized pot gallon sized pot
30°C for 6 weeks 35°C for 9 weeks
no fertilization fertilized once a week
Why did plant B grow more tomatoes? Can’t tell!
 By only changing one variable, the experimenter can
conclude that changes in the responding variable are
due only to changes in the one manipulated variable.
Collecting & Representing
Data
 Data - observations and measurements
that are made in an experiment
 All experimental data must include units.
(examples: 9cm, 20sec, 98°C)
 Data is often represented using tables and
graphs which must be thoroughly labeled.
Data Collected from an Experiment

Storage Location Temperature


Inside Room Inside Outside
Temp Freezing Temp Winter Temp
Percent of
germinated 0% 80% 85%
seeds
Representing Data in Graphs
Storage Temperature Effects on
Seed Germination
100

80
Percent of
Germinated
60
Seeds (%) - Inside Room

40 - Inside Freezing

- Outside Winter
20

Storage Location Temp


Collecting & Representing
Data Practice
Using the data below, re-draw the data table and
graph to improve them.
Results: Frogs given caffeine jumped 27cm
and frogs not given caffeine jumped 20 cm.

Frog not Frog


given given
caffeine caffeine
Distance
of jump 20 27
Table needs
Graph needsa units.
label on the X and Y axis and a
key.
Effect of Caffeine on Frog Jumps
30
Frog not Frog
25 given given
caffeine caffeine
20
Distance of Distance
20cm 27cm no caffine
jump (cm) 1of
5 jump
caffine
10

0
Frogs
Drawing Conclusions
 Conclusion – a final statement that sums
up the results of the experiment
 Conclusion is based on whether the data
supports or refutes the hypothesis.

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