Just What Is Science Anyway???

Just What Is Science Anyway??? ……a journey through the scientific method...

Science is: • a process of inquiry - asking questions and getting answers you do science • There are many sciences: life science poli-science social science etc

The Scientific Method • A very good way to do science • Easy to follow • Repeatable • Thorough • Can be applied to any problem. • Reports written factually • Do not use pronouns: you, me, we, she, he, they, my, I, his, her, their etc.

Step 1: Problem or Purpose • The problem is what you are trying to solve • Always state the problem in the form of a question. • Use how, why, what words. • Example: What design is best for protecting a raw egg when dropped from a two story building?

Step: 2 Hypothesis • The best solution based on your research • An educated statement of what will happen • Always written in a complete sentence

Step 3: Materials • Use specific amounts • List all material items needed for the experiment • Use bullets or numbers

Step 4: Procedure • Provide detailed steps to follow in conducting the experiment. • List each step • Start each step with a verb • Example: Slice two pieces of bread or pour 10ml into a beaker • It must be so detailed so that anyone who may dispute your work can reproduce exactly what you did.

Include data tables and graphs when appropriate: Quantitative data- observations you measure Describe what happened during the experiment Record data gained using 5 senses (sight, touch, smell, hearing, taste) this is called Qualitative data Qualitative Data will be your package sketched inside and outside. Step 5: Observations (Results & Data)

Step 6: Conclusion • Use complete sentences to explain if the experiment solved the problem • Discuss whether your original hypothesis was correct or incorrect • Avoid yes or no statements

State what the data means What was learned from this lab? Discuss any variables that may have affected the results What, if any, further investigation may need to be conducted on this problem? Independent Variables (IV) - the part of the experiment that you change Dependent Variables (DV) - the part of the experiment that changes as a result of the manipulation Constants - the parts of your experiment that does not change Step 7: Analysis - this step is very important! Do not restate the results here

Title page 1 Egg Drop Lab Name: Date: Period: ___/5

Problem 2 What design is best for protecting a raw egg when dropped from a two story building? 5 Pts.

Hypothesis 3 The best materials to protect the raw egg are: 5 Pts.

Materials 4 • (List using bullets or numbers. Be specificwith quantities). • 5Pts.

Procedure 5 • Begin sentence with a verb. Detailed steps. • 10 Pts.

Qualitative Observations 6 Inside Sketch/Picture Outside Sketch/Pix 10 Pts.

Quantitative Observations 7 Data Table 10 Pts

Quantitative Observations 8 Graph Number of Students 10 Pts.

Conclusion 9 • The container did or did not protect the egg because…. • The best thing about the design was….. • Reminder: No pronouns 15 Pts.

Analysis 10 • Some of the designs that students used that were successful were…. • The design could be improved by….. • The unplanned variable was… • What happened that was unexpected was… • This relates to a real life situation when… • The best thing about this lab was…. 25 Pts

Just What Is Science Anyway???