Scientific Method

1. W L Scientific Method K

2. What can an elephant teach us about the scientific method??

3. A poem written by John Godfrey Saxe (1816-1887) It was six men of IndostanTo learning much inclinedWho went to see the Elephant(Though all of them were blind),That each by observationMight satisfy his mindThe First approached the Elephant,And happening to fallAgainst his broad and sturdy side,At once began to bawl:"God bless me! but the ElephantIs very like a wall!"The Second, feeling of the tusk,Cried, "Ho! what have we hereSo very round and smooth and sharp?To me 'tis mighty clearThis wonder of an ElephantIs very like a spear!“

4. The Third approached the animal,And happening to takeThe squirming trunk within his hands,Thus boldly up and spake:"I see," quoth he, "the ElephantIs very like a snake."The Fourth reached out an eager hand,And felt about the knee."What most this wondrous beast is likeIs mighty plain," quoth he;"Tis Clear enough the ElephantIs very like a tree."The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,Said: "E'en the blindest manCan tell what this resembles most;Deny the fact who can,This marvel of an ElephantIs very like a fan!"

5. The Sixth no sooner had begun About the beast to grope,Then seizing on the swinging tailThat fell within his scope,"I see," quoth he, "the ElephantIs very like a rope."And so these men of IndostanDisputed loud and long.Each in his own opinionExceeding stiff and strong,Though each was partly in the right,And all were in the wrong.

6. 1. How does this poem illustrate the importance of observation in the scientific method?

7. 2. What is the moral of the tale?

8. 3. Many scientific errors can occur because the researcher does not use good skills of observation. Imagine a scenario where not being observant can result in an experiment going wrong. Describe this scenario in the form of a story or a poem.

9. Scientific Method involves a series of steps that are used to investigate a natural occurrence.

10. Problem Formulate a Hypothesis Experiment Collect and Analyze Results Conclusion Communicate the Results

11. Problem: Develop a question or problem that can be solved through experimentation. Examples: Testable problem: How can we make a sunflower grow taller? Not Testable: What is the meaning of life? • Steps of the Scientific Method It must be a testable question!

12. 2. Formulate a Hypothesis: Predict a possible answer to the problem or question. Example: If soil temperatures rise, then plant growth will increase. Usually an “If….Then” statement!

13. Why only change one Thing…why not more ? • Experiment: Test your hypothesis. • Manipulated variable: the ONE thing you change. Example: cancer treatment pill given • Responding variable: what changes because of the manipulated variable. Example: the cancer growth stops

14. Why is it important to have two groups instead of just the experimental group? • Two groups are used… • Control group: nothing is changed with this group (they do not get the cancer treatment pill but a placebo instead) • Experimental group: this group receives the manipulated variable (they get the cancer treatment pill) Cancer Growth Experimental Group Control Group

15. Why retest? 4. Collect and Analyze Results: Modify the procedure if needed. Confirm the results by retesting. Include tables, graphs, and photographs. Why is it important to write down all of your steps and information?

16. 5. Conclusion: Include a statement that accepts or rejects the hypothesis. Make recommendations for further study and possible improvements to the procedure.

17. 6. Communicate the Results: share your results with others. Why is it important to share results?

18. Scientific Method In Action

19. The Strange Case of BeriBeri • In 1887 a strange nerve disease attacked the people in the Dutch East Indies. The disease was beriberi. Symptoms of the disease included weakness and loss of appetite, victims often died of heart failure. Scientists thought the disease might be caused by bacteria. They injected chickens with bacteria from the blood of patients with beriberi. The injected chickens became sick. However, so did a group of chickens that were not injected with bacteria. • One of the scientists, Dr. Eijkman, noticed something. Before the experiment, all the chickens had eaten whole-grain rice, but during the experiment, the chickens were fed polished rice. Dr. Eijkman researched this interesting case. he found that polished rice lacked thiamine, a vitamin necessary for good health. • 1. State the Problem • 2. What was the hypothesis? • 3. How was the hypothesis tested? • 4. Should the hypothesis be supported or rejected based on the experiment? • 5. What should be the new hypothesis?

20. How Penicillin Was Discovered • In 1928, Sir Alexander Fleming was studying Staphylococcus bacteria growing in culture dishes. He noticed that a mold called Penicillium was also growing in some of the dishes. A clear area existed around the mold because all the bacteria that had grown in this area had died. In the culture dishes without the mold, no clear areas were present. • Fleming hypothesized that the mold must be producing a chemical that killed the bacteria. He decided to isolate this substance and test it to see if it would kill bacteria. Fleming transferred the mold to a nutrient broth solution. This solution contained all the materials the mold needed to grow. After the mold grew, he removed it from the nutruient broth. Fleming then added the nutrient broth in which the mold had grown to a culture of bacteria. He observed that the bacteria died. • 6. Identify the problem. • 7. What was Fleming's hypothesis? • 8. How was the hypothesis tested? • 9. Should the hypothesis be supported or rejected based on the experiment?  • 10. This experiment led to the development of what major medical advancement?