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Scientific Method

Scientific Method. The Way Science Works. Science. Science is a method of understanding the natural world. It is characterized by empirical criteria, logical argument, and skeptical review. It is characterized by creativity and is based on change. Scientific Knowledge and Change.

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Scientific Method

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  1. Scientific Method The Way Science Works

  2. Science • Science is a method of understanding the natural world. It is characterized by empirical criteria, logical argument, and skeptical review. It is characterized by creativity and is based on change.

  3. Scientific Knowledge and Change • Facts, concepts, principles, laws, theories, and models. Scientific knowledge is always changing as our understanding of the natural world improves. • Many people think science is a large list of facts. That’s wrong!

  4. Goal of Science • The goal of science is to understand the natural world. The goal of technology is to make modifications in the world to meet human needs.

  5. Conducting Experiments

  6. Scientific Method • The scientific method is the heart and soul of science!!! • An orderly and systematic manner for solving a problem

  7. What is the scientific method? • A logical way of solving problems • It enables scientists to organize their work • Following it helps scientists to be sure of the results at the end of an experiment

  8. Steps of the Scientific Method • Problem • Research • Hypothesis • Experiment • Data • Conclusion

  9. Problem • Once you have observed something, you may have a question about it. • A scientific problem is always stated as a question.Ex: Does the amount of water affect how tall a plant grows?

  10. Gathering Information • Observations • Libraries • Experts

  11. Observation • An observation is any information you gather through your five sensesThere are two kinds of observations:

  12. Observations • Quantitative observations always involve a number, or quantityEx: The chalkboard is 6 meters long • Qualitative observations do not have a numberEx: The chalkboard is green

  13. Hypothesis • An educated guess • Should be an answer to the question you posed as your problem • Written as an “If. . .then . . . “ statement. • Ex: If the amount of water increases, then plant height will also increase

  14. An Educated Guess?

  15. Experiment • This is for testing your hypothesis • Experiments have variables

  16. Variable • Something that you change while doing your experiment • Ex: If your variable is the amount of water, you may give some plants 1 liter of water every day, and others plants 2 liters of water • A good experiment only tests 1 variable at a time

  17. Variables: • There are 2 kinds • An independent variable is the part of the experiment you are deliberately manipulating. It does not depend on anything else. (Amount of water.) • A dependent variable may change when the independent variable is changed. (Plant height.)

  18. Control • To verifyor regulate by conducting a parallel experiment • For Comparison

  19. Experiment • Test/Investigate • Plan the investigation or experiment. • Decide what to ignore. Clarify. Think. Devise an experiment. • Execute the plan or experiment. • Gather materials. Assemble experiment. Observe results. Devise data collection method.

  20. Placebo

  21. Data • Information you gather from your experiment • Always make a data table before you do your experiment • A good data table has: • Labels at the top of each column • Includes the units you are measuring in • Is made with a straight edge

  22. Analyze and Evaluate • Repeat or confirm or predict. • Interpret Data. • Does the experiment need to be revised and repeated because it was flawed in some way? • Did the experiment confirm or deny the hypothesis?

  23. Conclusion • At the end of your experiment, you make a conclusion based on the data you have gathered.

  24. Conclusion • Your conclusion should state whether your hypothesis was “supported” or “not supported” by the data you gathered. • It should also include any sources of error (things that may have gone wrong) in your experiment.

  25. “Pizza Really Has Extra Delicious Cheese!” Problem Research Hypothesis Experiment Data Conclusion How to Remember All This

  26. Review Questions • What is an observation? • Give an example of a quantitative observation. • How should a hypothesis always be written?

  27. Review Questions • Name 2 characteristics of a good data table. • How many variables should an experiment test at a time? • What is the purpose of a conclusion?

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