The Scientific Method
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The Scientific Method Unit 1: The Scientific Method Chapter 1-1 & 1-2
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The Scientific Method. Unit 1: The Scientific Method Chapter 1-1 & 1-2. What is Science?. Science is a method of thinking about the natural world. Bio l ogy is the scientific study of life . Scientific Method. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of The Scientific Method
The Scientific Method
Unit 1: The Scientific Method
Chapter 1-1 & 1-2
What is Science? Science is a method of thinking
about the natural world. Biology is the scientific study of
life.
Scientific Method The scientific method is a
procedure scientists use to seek answers to questions.
PROBLEM
HYPOTHESIS
EXPERIMENT
RECORD DATA &ANALYZE RESULTS
ACCEPT HYPOTHESIS
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
FORM A NEW HYPOTHESIS
REJECT HYPOTHESIS
REPEAT THE WORK
CONCLUSION
1. Identify a ProblemObservations are
descriptions about the way something is or the way things happen
From these observations, a question is formed about why or how
Example: Identify a problem Barney observes:
–When I drink Coke, I burp a lot.
He asks Professor Frink:– Why does Coke cause
burping?
Professor Frink explains:– You can do background research
to help you know more• Look online about the physiology of
burping
Example: Identify a problem
Wikipedia - not always 100% accurate, but a good start for background information
carbon dioxide in drinks causes gas pressure to build in the stomach
A Hypothesis is a prediction that may provide an answer to the question– The hypothesis must be
“testable”– The hypothesis must be written
in the form of an “If…, then…” statement
2. Create a Hypothesis
Example: Create a Hypothesis
If people drink Coke, then they will burp more.Student example(s)…….
Hypothesis vs. Theory Hypothesis: is an educated guess
that can be tested and may or may not be true
Theory: a well-tested hypothesis that is supported by many types of observations– In science, theories are nearly facts– Ex. Theory of Evolution, Theory of Relativity,
Cell Theory
3. Controlled ExperimentTest the hypothesisProcedure—the steps
followed during an experiment
Well designed experiments have a control group and experimental group(s)
Subject
Subjects
Control Group: all variables are kept the same (constant)– Used for comparison
Experimental Group: all the same variables except the one thing you are testing
The experimental group drink Coke.
The control group drink water.
Independent Variable
Control
Variables: anything that can influence the outcome of the experiment
– Examples: age of subjects, health of subjects, having food or drinks before the experiment
Independent Variable: What you are testing– (The variable that is changed)
Dependent Variable: what is measured or observed– The variable that changes
because of the independent variable
Example: Experiment Independent Variable: type of
beverage
Dependent Variable average number of burps
Independent Variable
Control
4. Record Data & Analyze Collect & record Data
(information)– Qualitative data: descriptions– Quantitative data: numbers
• Data can be recorded in a table Analyze the data by graphing
it– Bar graphs: show comparisons– Line graphs: show changes over
time
Example: Recording DataAverage # of Burps
Control Group: Water
2
Experimental Group:
Coke
6
Independent Variable Contro
l
Dependent Variable: what you measure
Analyze the Results: Bar Graph
Y-axis = Dependent
Variable
X-axis = Independent Variable
Title
Label
Occurrence of Gas Expulsion for Non-carbonated vs. Carbonated Beverages
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
WATER COKE
# O
F BU
RPS
Average Number of Burps for Water vs. Coke
Proper units
Type of Beverage
5. Conclusions
The results tell whether the hypothesis was “accepted or rejected”
Example: ConclusionAccept or reject the
hypothesis? –ACCEPT!
Why? –There were more
burps with Coke than with water based on the data and the results of the graph.
When a hypothesis is supported by data from additional investigations, it is considered valid.
When a hypothesis is not supported, it means that we need to go back and ask new questions or identify sources of error in the experiment.
6. Repeat the Work
ACCEPT HYPOTHESIS
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
FORM A NEW HYPOTHESIS
REJECT HYPOTHESIS
REPEAT THE WORK
PROBLEM
HYPOTHESIS
EXPERIMENT
RECORD DATA &ANALYZE RESULTS
ACCEPT HYPOTHESIS
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
FORM A NEW HYPOTHESIS
REJECT HYPOTHESIS
REPEAT THE WORK
CONCLUSION
