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Scientific Method
What is Science?
Observation, identification, description, and explanation of phenomena (occurrences in the world around us)
Latin root for the word science is scientia meaning knowledge
Through study of science Ask Questions Develop Hypothesis (educated guesses) Design and Carry out Experiments Gain a Better Understanding of the Universe
Scientific Method
Procedure for studying natureConsists of several steps
Make an observation Ask questions Form the hypothesis Set up an experiment Collect the data Draw a conclusion Make a prediction
Making Observations and Defining the Problem
Observations are made by using the five senses (sight, touch, smell, sound, and taste) to obtain information
Making observations may lead to identifying problems
Asking Questions
By asking questions we can search for logical explanations of what we observe and find ways to solve problems
Sample Experiment
Asked to observe marine snail behavior in an aquarium
Tank contains several snails at one end and a mussel (food) at the other end
Observe snails climbing the aquarium and swarming all over the food
What is the problem?
Forming the Hypothesis
After observing and asking questions we can form an opinion about how or why something happens
Hypothesis – statement that gives the best possible response to the question Based on already known facts Educated Guess
Setting Up the Experiment
Should give accurate and measureable results
Should be designed to collect informationGoal is to prove or disprove a hypothesisSet up to examine only one condition
(variable) at a time to give meaningful data
Sample Experiment
Materials: Aquarium Food Seawater Graduated cylinder Snails Metric ruler
Sample Experiment
Sample Experiment
Experimental Variables
Independent Variable – factor that is changed or manipulated during an experiment in order to determine the effect of the change
Dependent Variable – the factor that the experimenter is measuring or counting Changes in response to the independent variable
Control Variable – all other factors in an experiment Things that the investigator attempts to control Goal is to keep them the same for all samples
Experimental Groups
Control Group Variable (Experimental) Groups
Collecting Data
Gathered from observations and measurements taken during an experiment
Qualitative Data – information that cannot be assigned a numerical value Usually collected using the five senses
Quantitative Data - anything that can be expressed as a number or quantified Include lengths, weights, masses, volumes, time,
anything expressed as a number
Observations must be recorded
Organizing Data
Organizing Data
Draw Conclusion
Based on dataSupport hypothesisSnails move faster in the presence of food