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Patterns, Cause/Effect & the Scientific Method

Patterns, Cause/Effect & the Scientific Method. Was the Stonehenge birth of Astronomy ?. OR proof of Ancient Alien Astronauts?. Linked. Occam’s razor – the simplest answer is the most likely the right answer. SO…what is Science?. Scientific study normally begins with a problem or

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Patterns, Cause/Effect & the Scientific Method

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  1. Patterns, Cause/Effect & the Scientific Method

  2. Was the Stonehenge birth of Astronomy ?

  3. OR proof of Ancient Alien Astronauts? Linked

  4. Occam’s razor – the simplest answer is the most likely the right answer

  5. SO…what is Science?

  6. Scientific study normally begins with a problem or a testable subject/situation Scientists try to answer the question WHY? And/or fix a problem 1) define the problem • write a testable question

  7. Cholera & Epidemiology • intestinal disease caused by the bacteria vibrio cholerae resulting in severe diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration and death • field of medicine that studies outbreaks of disease that affect large numbers of people Linked

  8. John Snow and Cholera

  9. Hypothesize ?????????? 2) research existing knowledge of the problem or situation helps a scientist form 3) hypothesis - an educated guess; testable explanation

  10. A hypothesis must be able to be tested… 4) experiment – testing a hypothesis using a series of steps with controlled conditions variable – something that causes the changes observed in an exp.

  11. Experimental Design Independent variable – quantity changed by the scientist (“If I do this…”) Dependent variable – quantity that changes in response to independent variable (it depends on independent variable) (“Then this…will happen”)

  12. Experimental Design In a well planned experiment, the independent variable should be the only condition that affects the experiments outcome control – basis of comparison, doesn’t change, not exposed to experiment

  13. Observations give evidence… Qualitative Observations made using senses • Color • Odor • Texture • Shape should use descriptive language so you can communicate to someone else what happened during the experiment write down ALL things that happen that MAY impact what you are testing

  14. Observations give evidence Quantitative Observations are measurements (sets of numbers that may support cause/effect relationships) • Length • Volume • mass • Time • Temperature ALL DATA MUST HAVE UNITS

  15. Observation vs. Inference Observation is a fact Inference is a logical interpretation based on observation

  16. 5) Organize & Analyze Data Helps show patterns that give cause and effect relationships between variables that may support the hypothesis

  17. The X axis is ALWAYS the independent and the Y axis is ALWAYS the dependent variable.This graph shows how your education level (independent) effects your salary (dependent) as an adult!

  18. 6) Conclusion – a judgment based on the information obtained in experiment ((A conclusion can never be proven…data can support it BUT if further evidence does not support it then the hypothesis is discarded or modified)) Theory – is a hypothesis that has been tested again and again by many scientists, with the same results each time, the best explanationscience has to offer about a problem

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