Scientific method powerpoint.php

Introduction to Introduction to Science: The Science: The

Scientific MethodScientific Method

Courtesy of: Omega ScienceCourtesy of: Omega Science

What is Science?What is Science?

The knowledge obtained by The knowledge obtained by observingobserving natural events and natural events and conditions in order to discover conditions in order to discover factsfacts and formulate and formulate lawslaws or principles or principles that can be verified or that can be verified or testedtested..

What is Physical What is Physical Science?Science?

The scientific study of The scientific study of non-livingnon-living matter.matter. ChemistryChemistry

The study of all forms of The study of all forms of matter,matter, including including how matter interacts with other matter.how matter interacts with other matter.

PhysicsPhysics The study of The study of energyenergy and how it affects and how it affects

matter.matter.

What is the Scientific What is the Scientific Method?Method?

Step-by-step way in which scientists Step-by-step way in which scientists answer questions.answer questions.

1. Ask a 1. Ask a questionquestion.. 2. 2. ResearchResearch the topic. the topic. 3. Form a 3. Form a hypothesis.hypothesis. 4. 4. Test Test the Hypothesis.the Hypothesis. 5. Gather 5. Gather DataData.. 6. Analyze 6. Analyze Results.Results. 7. Draw 7. Draw Conclusions.Conclusions. 8. Communicate 8. Communicate Results.Results.

State the Problem/Questions

The problem identifies what you want to find out.

Develop a clear statement defining the problem

Make sure your problem is narrowed/specific enough

State the problem in the form of a question: How does __________ affect _______? What is the effect of _______ on ________?

Research

Write down all information you already know

Do research in books on the topic you are investigating

Ask experts on the subject you are researching

If you find an answer to your problem/question you do not need to move on

What is a hypothesis?What is a hypothesis?

An An explanationexplanation that is based on that is based on prior scientific research or prior scientific research or observations and that can be tested.observations and that can be tested.

““EducatedEducated Guess” ( your high Guess” ( your high school teacher may not like this school teacher may not like this definition)definition)

““If… then… because” StatementIf… then… because” Statement

How do you test a How do you test a hypothesis?hypothesis?

Develop a test to support or not support your hypothesis. (This is your experiment). Must be run multiple times Must have only 1 independent

variable (the factor being tested Must include 2 setups

Experimental setup Control setup

How do you test a How do you test a hypothesis?hypothesis? Use a Controlled Experiment Use a Controlled Experiment

An experiment that tests only An experiment that tests only one one factor at a factor at a time by using a comparison of a control group time by using a comparison of a control group and an experimental group.and an experimental group.

Control GroupControl Group The group that the scientist changes The group that the scientist changes nothingnothing

in. The Control group is used for comparison. in. The Control group is used for comparison. Experimental GroupExperimental Group

The group that the scientist has changed The group that the scientist has changed something. It is the something. It is the variablevariable in the in the experiment where you want to see how this experiment where you want to see how this condition affects something.condition affects something.

What is a variable?What is a variable? A variable is something that can change, A variable is something that can change,

either naturally or on purpose. ***either naturally or on purpose. *** In an experiment it is a factor that is In an experiment it is a factor that is

different different from one group to another. from one group to another. Independent variableIndependent variable

The factor that the scientist The factor that the scientist has has changed in changed in order to test the hypothesis (on purpose). It is order to test the hypothesis (on purpose). It is the causethe cause

Dependent VariableDependent Variable The The result result of what the scientist changed. It is of what the scientist changed. It is

the effect of what happened in the experiment.the effect of what happened in the experiment.

What are constants?What are constants?

They are what the scientist kept the They are what the scientist kept the samesame in both the control group and in both the control group and the experimental group.the experimental group.

How can you gather How can you gather data?data?

Make Make Observations.Observations. Any use of the senses to gather information.Any use of the senses to gather information.

Qualitative Qualitative ObservationsObservations Anything that you see, smell, touch, taste, Anything that you see, smell, touch, taste,

or hear.or hear. Ex. Blue, bitter, fizzing sound.Ex. Blue, bitter, fizzing sound.

QuantitativeQuantitative Observations Observations Any observation that can be measured.Any observation that can be measured. Must include a number.Must include a number. Ex. 5 centimeters longEx. 5 centimeters long

How can you analyze How can you analyze results to determine results to determine

patterns?patterns? Record Data Write observations and measurements Be consistent when you are checking

your experiments and recording the results

Create tables or charts (Data Tables Data Tables and Pie Charts)and Pie Charts)

Create graphs from collected Data (Line Line Graphs, Bar Graphs)Graphs, Bar Graphs) Complete all necessary mathematical

calculations

How can you draw How can you draw conclusions?conclusions?

Answer the following questions in Answer the following questions in paragraph form (Always explain in paragraph form (Always explain in detail using scientific vocabulary.):detail using scientific vocabulary.): Do your results/data support your Do your results/data support your

hypothesis? Why or why not? hypothesis? Why or why not? What are ways you can improve your What are ways you can improve your

data? data? What would you do differently if you What would you do differently if you

were to repeat the experiment?were to repeat the experiment?

What is in a conclusion?What is in a conclusion? You restate the purpose of your experimentYou restate the purpose of your experiment You indicate what the results were. Use You indicate what the results were. Use

numbers!!!!! Example: “On average after 3 numbers!!!!! Example: “On average after 3 trials, …….”trials, …….”

You explain why those results were given. You explain why those results were given. Here you think about what you found out in Here you think about what you found out in your research.your research.

You consider any improvements to your You consider any improvements to your procedure. This is error analysis.procedure. This is error analysis.

You ask a new question – what do you want to You ask a new question – what do you want to do next?do next?

ss

How would you communicate results?

Share data and information with others, such as scientists.

Publish your findings in a book, magazine, journal, the internet.

Let’s try!Let’s try! Six bean plants are to be tested to see Six bean plants are to be tested to see

what happens if light is taken away. The what happens if light is taken away. The all have the same type of container, the all have the same type of container, the same amount of soil, and they will receive same amount of soil, and they will receive the same amount of water. Three will be the same amount of water. Three will be placed in a sunlit window and 3 will be placed in a sunlit window and 3 will be placed in a dark closet for 2 weeks.placed in a dark closet for 2 weeks.

1. What is the question?1. What is the question? 2. Research.2. Research. 3. Form a Hypothesis.3. Form a Hypothesis. 4. Test your hypothesis.4. Test your hypothesis.

Let’s try continued…Let’s try continued… 4a. What is the control group?4a. What is the control group? 4b. What is the experimental group?4b. What is the experimental group? 4c. What is the independent variable?4c. What is the independent variable? 4d. What is the dependent variable?4d. What is the dependent variable? 4e. What are the constants?4e. What are the constants? 5. Gather data.5. Gather data. 5a. What are some Qualitative 5a. What are some Qualitative

observations you can make?observations you can make? 5b. What are some quantitative 5b. What are some quantitative

observations you can make?observations you can make?

Let’s try continued…Let’s try continued…again.again.

6. Analyze results.6. Analyze results. 6a. How can you show your results?6a. How can you show your results? 7. Draw Conclusions?7. Draw Conclusions? 7a. How do you write a conclusion 7a. How do you write a conclusion

paragraph?paragraph?

What are scientific What are scientific models?models?

ModelModel A representation of an A representation of an object object or or

system.system. Physical ModelsPhysical Models Mathematical ModelsMathematical Models Conceptual ModelsConceptual Models

What is the difference What is the difference between a scientific theory between a scientific theory

and a scientific law?and a scientific law? TheoryTheory

An explanation that An explanation that ties ties together many together many hypotheses and hypotheses and observations.observations.

Supported by Supported by repeated repeated trials.trials.

May help with May help with further predictions.further predictions.

Tells Tells whywhy it it happens.happens.

LawLaw A sA summary ummary of of

many experimental many experimental results and results and observations.observations.

TellsTells how how things things workwork

Only tells what Only tells what happens, it does happens, it does not not explain why.explain why.