Scientific Method

1
Scientific Method
2
Steps in the Scientific Method

• Question
• Observation
• Hypothesis
• Experiment
• Data Collection
• Conclusion
• Retest

3
Observations

• Gathered through your senses

4
Hypothesis

• A suggested solution
• Must be testable
• Sometimes written as IfThen statements
• Predicts an outcome

5
Experiment

• A procedure designed to test the hypothesis.
• Independent variable
• Dependent variable
• Control group
• Constants
• Experimental group

6
Independent Variable

• The factor that is being changed or tested in an
  experiment.
• Example One group of salamanders is exposed to a
  certain pollutant and the other group is not. The
  tail growth of both groups is monitored for 6
  months. Each group is given the same diet and
  they are all the same age and species of
  salamander.
• Can you identify the independent variable?

7
Dependent Variable

• Your results!
• The outcome what is being measured or observed.
• Example One group of salamanders is exposed to a
  certain pollutant and the other group is not. The
  tail growth of both groups is monitored for 6
  months. Each group is given the same diet and
  they are all the same age and species of
  salamander.
• Can you identify the dependent variable?

8
Control Group

• One group of test subjects is used for
  comparison.
• They do not get exposed to the independent
  variable.
• Example One group of salamanders is exposed to a
  certain pollutant and the other group is not. The
  tail growth of both groups is monitored for 6
  months. Each group is given the same diet and
  they are all the same age and species of
  salamander.

9
Experimental Group

• The group that is being tested on.
• Example One group of salamanders is exposed to a
  certain pollutant and the other group is not. The
  tail growth of both groups is monitored for 6
  months. Each group is given the same diet and
  they are all the same age and species of
  salamander.

10
Constants

• Every factor besides the independent variable
  must remain the same so that you know for sure
  what has affected your results.
• You hypothesize that plants will grow taller in
  the sunlight. To test this, you set up two
  groups one is in the sunlight and given water
  every day, while plants in the other group are
  kept in the dark without water. At the end of the
  experiment, plants in the first group are taller
  but was it the sunlight or the water? Or both?

11
Constants

• Example One group of salamanders is exposed to a
  certain pollutant and the other group is not. The
  tail growth of both groups is monitored for 6
  months. Each group is given the same diet and
  they are all the same age and species of
  salamander.
• Can you identify some constants?

12
Good Experiment

• A good or valid experiment will
• Have only test one changing variable
• Will be repeatable (other scientist can perform
  it)
• Have large sample sizes
• Have several trials of each tested group

13
Data

• Results of the experimentMay be
• quantitative
• (numbers)
• qualitative
• (Quality or something observed with the senses)

14
Data

• Must be organized
• Can be organized into charts, tables, or graphs

15
Independent vs. Dependent Variable
16
Conclusion

• The answer to the hypothesis based on the data
  obtained from the experiment

17

• A Theory is a well-established explanation for
  scientific data. Theories typically cannot be
  proven, but they can become established if they
  are tested by several different scientific
  investigators. A theory can be disproven by a
  single contrary result.

18
Review

• Timothy is testing his hypothesis that eating
  carrots will help his rabbits live longer. He has
  two rabbits. Rabbit A he feeds one carrot
  everyday. Rabbit B does not get carrots. Both
  rabbits are the same age, get the same type of
  food, and the same exercise. He does this for 3
  years until Rabbit B dies. Identify the following
  factors from his experiment
• Hypothesis
• Independent/dependent variables
• Experimental/control groups
• Constants
• Conclusion, did his results support his
  hypothesis?

19
Exit Ticket

• Choose a scenario from the worksheet
• Answer the questions under the scenario
• List something that could have made it a better
  experiment. Use complete sentences.

20
Bell Work

• There is an object on the stool in front of the
  room.
• Write down as many observations as you can about
  this object.

21

• www.photographyblogger.net/20-pictures-of-colored-
  pencils/
• http//freestocktextures.com/

22
Design Principals (Evaluate the overall benefit
to cost ratio of a new technology)

• http//scienceworld.scholastic.com/Chemistry-News/
  2014/04/water-bottles-you-can-eat
• Read the above article
• In the article it mentions that the designers of
  Ooho think that the pros outweigh the cons.
• Do some research and construct a data supported
  response either supporting or rejecting this
  thought. Response must be written in paragraph
  form and use appropriate APA citations. Provide a
  bibliography as well with at least 3 resources.
• Check out PurdueOwl.com for help with APA
  formatting