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L. Coleman 2009L. Coleman 2009

The scientific process: an organized way to solve problems and find answers to questions about the natural world.

PURPOSE: Benefit society.

Do the test(EXPERIMENT or

make observationsIn the field)

Form a HYPOTHESIS:predict the answer to

the question

Ask a QUESTION

Study, observe, learnall you can.

( must be testable)

Design a w

ay to

test h

ypothesis.

a. Use a control

b. Make careful record of data

Study & analyze data

Form a CONCLUSION:Is hypoth. supported - yes, no, partially?

“NO” or “partially”?Revise one orboth:

“YES”?

Share what youlearned - PUBLISH

Often raises

new questions

Practical problem, curiosity,new technology or observationleads someone to…

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

KNOWLEDGEof the natural

world.

The Scientific Process starts with developing a…

1.1. Problem/Question Problem/Question: … that can be solved through experimentation or observation. [How, What, When, Who, Which, Why, or Where?]

Example: Why, after rebounding for a few years, is the population of California sea otters declining again?

Before proceeding to the next step, make observations and

research your topic of interest.

Do you remember the Do you remember the next step?next step?

2. Formulate a HypothesisFormulate a Hypothesis: Predict a possible answer to the problem

or question.

Must be testable by experiment or

observation.

Example: Sea otters are dying from a cat parasite accumulating in the ocean as a result of runoff polluted by cat feces.

3. Do an experiment or make observations in nature to test your hypothesis.

• Carefully record your observations (data).

• If testing with an experiment, be sure you use a control*.

* A control is the group (or item) that serves as the standard of comparison. A control is the same as the experimental group(s) in every way except that the control receives “no treatment”.

Testing with an experiment.

Testing by observation.

Before going to the next step, organize organize and analyze resultsand analyze results: (Often includes

graphing and/or mathematical analysis of data)

a. Is there a pattern (or patterns) in the data?If yes, what does it tell you about the purpose?

b. Is there evidence that

you may have made errors?If so, study procedure to see where errors might have occurred.

Label axes - include units!

TITLE graphs

Pressure change with temperature increase in a gas

4.4. Form a Conclusion Form a Conclusion: a. Summarize results.b. Describe patterns you identified.c. Hypothesize possible

explanation(s) of patterns.d. Can you answer purpose based

on your results? If so, do it! If not, say so and tell why. Support your statement with evidence from data.

e. Do results support your hypothesis? If not, identify possible reason:

– Hypothesis wrong?– Error(s)?

“By golly, I was right!”

f. Discuss any new questions thatyour work raises about the topic.

5. PUBLISH!

• Share what you’ve learned so others can:

- study your experiment - repeat it- pursue questions you

raised. - and society can

benefit from your work.• In this class, you share by writing a lab report!

The body of knowledge of science comes from many sources:

• Experimental and observational EVIDENCE.(obtained through the scientific process).

• FACTS: directly observable phenomena agreed upon by all. (Example: “ people come in different heights”).

• LAWS: Statements of fundamental relationships that always hold true under specific conditions. (Example: the Law of Gravity).

FACT

FACT

FACT

FACT

FACT

FACT

FACT

LAW

LAW

LAW

LAW

Observational evidence

Observational evidence

Observational evidence

Observational evidence

Experimental evidence

Experimental

evidence

Experimental

evidence

Experimental evidence

Experimental evidence

HYPOTHESIS:

HYPOTHESIS:

1. Evidence about a topic from all sources accumulates.

3. Rarely, someone develops a THEORY: something that explains and is consistent with every fact, law and bit of evidence on the topic.

THEORY

2. Scientists propose and test HYPOTHESES (possible explanations) to make sense of parts of it.

In everyday usage a“theory” is a guess. In science it means just the opposite.THEORIES ARE WHAT SCIENTISTS ARE MOST SURE

ABOUT!1. Supported by HUGE bodies of evidence.

2. If contradictory evidence arises, theory must be changed to include it.

3. Accurately predict future findings and results.

Three theories organize our understanding of living things: 1. CELL THEORY

2. The “CENTRAL DOGMA”(How DNA Controls an Organism.)

3. THEORY OF EVOLUTION by NATURAL SELECTION.