Scientific Method

1. Scientific Method Pre Lab

2. Observinga system. A system is a given region of space that has been selected for study • Observing is the use of the 5 senses to obtain information. • data may be • qualitative:descriptive • quantitative:numerical

3. Observation versus Inference • Observation: 5 senses: see, hear, touch, taste, smell. • Inference: Conclusions drawn from your observations. • I smell something flowery. Observation • I am in a rose garden. Inference

4. Qualitative vs Quantitative • Qualitative: • The quality of an item. • Beauty, goodness, color etc. • A non-numerical assessment. • Quantitative • Results in a definite form. • Usually as number with units • $5,694.56

5. Hypothesis • An Educated guess. • Scientistsmake generalizations based on the data. • Hypotheses are often “if-then” statements.

6. Test or Experiment • Testing a hypothesis requires experimentation that provides data to support or refute a hypothesis or theory. • Controls are the conditions that remain constant. • Variables areany conditions that change.

7. Make Observations • Look at the results of your experiments. • We call those results Data!

8. Compare your results with your original Hypothesis. • Do they agree or not. • If not, you need to alter your hypothesis. • You never alter your results to fit your hypotheisis

9. Theory • If the hypothesis holds up after repeated tests, it may graduate to become a … • Theory • In Modern Science, Theories are published in peer review journals to be reviewed by other scientists.

10. 1.MakeObservations 2. Form an hypothesis 3. Test the hypothesis 4. Make Observations 5. Compare to original hypothesis. Alter hypothesis if needed 6. If Repeated tests agree with hypothesis, A theory is created.