Skills of Scientific Skills of Scientific InvestigationInvestigation

Types of StudiesTypes of Studies

2 Types of Studies2 Types of Studies Controlled ExperimentControlled Experiment

• A researcher designs an experiment to look for a cause-A researcher designs an experiment to look for a cause-effect relationshipeffect relationship

• 1 variable is manipulated while another is monitored for 1 variable is manipulated while another is monitored for changechange

• Your paper towel labYour paper towel lab Observational ExperimentObservational Experiment

• Observations are made without direct influenceObservations are made without direct influence• Relationships can be determined, but not cause-effectRelationships can be determined, but not cause-effect• Ex: “How does a person’s age relate to their height?”Ex: “How does a person’s age relate to their height?”• Ex: “How long does it take the Moon to go through its Ex: “How long does it take the Moon to go through its

phases?”phases?”

The ProcessThe Process Both types of studies follow the same Both types of studies follow the same

steps:steps:• Planning & InitiatingPlanning & Initiating

Designing the experimentDesigning the experiment Crafting a hypothesisCrafting a hypothesis

• Performing & RecordingPerforming & Recording Carry out the experimentCarry out the experiment Make observationsMake observations

• Analyzing & EvaluatingAnalyzing & Evaluating Analyze the observationsAnalyze the observations See if your questions was answeredSee if your questions was answered

• CommunicatingCommunicating A LAB REPORT!!!A LAB REPORT!!!

Why Create a Report?Why Create a Report?

To keep a record for yourselfTo keep a record for yourself To neatly track all your observations To neatly track all your observations

and resultsand results ***To share your findings with other ***To share your findings with other

scientistsscientists

Report OverviewReport Overview

A report should…A report should…• Be neatBe neat• Be organizedBe organized• Contain all required sectionsContain all required sections• Include ALL your observations and Include ALL your observations and

calculations/analysiscalculations/analysis• Have an appropriate title pageHave an appropriate title page

The Lab Report, Section by SectionThe Lab Report, Section by Section

Body of ReportBody of Report

Experimental Question or ProblemExperimental Question or Problem• What is it you are trying to determine?What is it you are trying to determine?• What are you testing?What are you testing?• Example: “What is the best mark I can get on a Example: “What is the best mark I can get on a

lab report?”lab report?” HypothesisHypothesis

• An education guess answering your An education guess answering your experimental problemexperimental problem

• Example: “I believe the best mark I can get is Example: “I believe the best mark I can get is 90%.”90%.”

Body of ReportBody of Report

Experimental DesignExperimental Design• A A briefbrief description of your procedure description of your procedure• Include the variables used in your Include the variables used in your

experiment (independent, dependant, experiment (independent, dependant, and controlled)and controlled)

MaterialsMaterials• List all the equipment you used in your List all the equipment you used in your

experimentexperiment

Body of ReportBody of Report

ProcedureProcedure• Step by step guide about your experimentStep by step guide about your experiment

Use numbersUse numbers Someone should be able to follow these steps and Someone should be able to follow these steps and

perform the same experiment as youperform the same experiment as you

• Write like a recipe:Write like a recipe: ““Pour 100 mL of water on the paper towel”Pour 100 mL of water on the paper towel”

ObservationsObservations• ALL the data that you recorded in a neat form ALL the data that you recorded in a neat form

consider using a data table consider using a data table

Body of ReportBody of Report

Analysis and ConclusionsAnalysis and Conclusions• Analyse your dataAnalyse your data

Consider using graphs, tables, etc.Consider using graphs, tables, etc.

• Draw conclusions and answer your initial Draw conclusions and answer your initial questionsquestions

DiscussionDiscussion• List some things that may have given you List some things that may have given you

errors (called source of error)errors (called source of error)• Suggest improvements to your procedure to Suggest improvements to your procedure to

get better results next timeget better results next time

Brief ReviewBrief Review QuestionQuestion

• What are you testing?What are you testing? HypothesisHypothesis

• What do you think is the answer BEFORE running the test?What do you think is the answer BEFORE running the test? Experimental DesignExperimental Design

• What did you do, what are your variables?What did you do, what are your variables? MaterialsMaterials

• What equipment did you need?What equipment did you need? ProcedureProcedure

• What EXACTLY did you do?What EXACTLY did you do? ObservationsObservations

• What did you observe?What did you observe? Analysis & ConclusionsAnalysis & Conclusions

• What IS the answer to your question?What IS the answer to your question? DiscussionDiscussion

• What could you do better next time?What could you do better next time?

What to do now???What to do now???

1)1) Finish running your experiment if Finish running your experiment if you didn’t finish yesterdayyou didn’t finish yesterday

2)2) Make sure Make sure youyou have a copy of your have a copy of your observationsobservations

3)3) Create a lab report including all Create a lab report including all sectionssections

• Your complete, polished, lab report is Your complete, polished, lab report is due at the beginning of class on due at the beginning of class on MondayMonday