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The Scientific Method

The Scientific Method. What is Science?. Science : Process that produces information about nature Steps: Observation & Experimentation Why: Apply the results to the real world Why: Better understand our world. Scientific Method.

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The Scientific Method

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  1. The Scientific Method

  2. What is Science? • Science: Process that produces information about nature • Steps: Observation & Experimentation • Why: Apply the results to the real world • Why: Better understand our world

  3. Scientific Method • Defined: Series of steps to collect information or solve problems 1) Observation 2) Hypothesis 3) Experimentation 4) Data Analysis 5) Conclusion

  4. Observation and Hypothesis • 1st step: Make an observation • Example: I seem to sleep better when I play relaxing music. • 2nd step: Create a hypothesis • If…then statement • Example: If there is relaxing music playing, then I will sleep longer.

  5. 3rd step: Design an Experiment • Two parts to an experiment • Control group • Receives no special treatments • Used as comparison • 2) Experimental Group • Same as control group, except…the independent variable • Independent variable = one factor that differs from the control group • Dependent variable: Data measured

  6. Here is a well designed setup

  7. Curtains closed Curtains closed Soft bed Soft bed Control Group Experimental Group Usual exercise Healthy meals Usual exercise Healthy meals No music while sleeping Music while sleeping Test for 1 month Test for 1 month Did the music cause the extra sleep? Average 6.2 hours sleep Yes. It was the only reason to explain the extra sleep. Average 7.5 hours sleep

  8. Curtains closed Curtains closed Soft bed Soft bed Control Group Experimental Group Usual exercise Healthy meals Usual exercise Healthy meals No music while sleeping Music while sleeping Test for 1 month Test for 1 month • 30 seconds to discuss with your neighbor. • What’s the independent variable? • What’s the dependent variable? Average 6.2 hours sleep Average 7.5 hours sleep Presence of music Amount of sleep

  9. Here is a poorly designed setup

  10. Curtains closed Soft bed Soft bed Curtains open Control Group Experimental Group Increased exercise Usual exercise Healthy meals Healthy meals No music while sleeping Music while sleeping Test for 1 month Test for 1 month Did the music cause the extra sleep? Average 6.2 hours sleep Average 7.5 hours sleep Unknown. Extra sleep could have been due to other variables.

  11. A teacher wants to know if her new teaching method is more successful than traditional teaching methods. She compares test scores of her period 2 class (received the traditional teaching method) verses her period 4 class (received new teaching method). Each class has a random mix of honors students. Name the control group _________________________________________________ Name the experimental group ____________________________________________ Name the independent variable __________________________________________ Name the dependent variable ____________________________________________ Period 2 students Period 4 students Teaching method Test scores

  12. A high school soccer team on average scores 2.2 goals per game by practicing 4 days a week. The coach wants to see if practicing 5 days a week will help the team score more goals. The coach has the team practice 5 days per week and compares the goals scored per game. Name the control group _________________________________________________ Name the experimental group ____________________________________________ Name the independent variable __________________________________________ Name the dependent variable ____________________________________________ Practicing 4 days per week Practicing 5 days per week Length of practice Goals scored per game

  13. The city of Los Angeles wants to know if there is a connection between physical fitness and air pollution. Fifty volunteers from the mayor’s office agree to be tested. First, they are asked to ride a stationary bike for 1 hour in a pollution-free air chamber. A week later, the 50 volunteers return and are again asked to ride a stationary bike for 1 hour in a chamber filled with air pollutants common to Los Angeles. Their heart rates are monitored throughout the 1 hour bike rides. Name the control group _________________________________________________ Name the experimental group ____________________________________________ Name the independent variable __________________________________________ Name the dependent variable ____________________________________________ Volunteers who breathed common polluted air Volunteers who breathed clean air Quality of air breathed Heart rates

  14. Farmer Bob wants to test a new fertilizer to help his crops grow better. He sections off two large areas of his field. In section A, he waters his crops as usual and uses his normal fertilizer. In section B, he waters his crops as usual and but adds the experimental fertilizer. After 1 growing season, he records the growth of the crops. Name the control group _________________________________________________ Name the experimental group ____________________________________________ Name the independent variable __________________________________________ Name the dependent variable ____________________________________________ Section A Section B Type of fertilizer used Growth of the crops

  15. The United States military wants to see if soldiers with only 4 hours of sleep can operate at the same level as those who normally get 7 hours of sleep. One hundred solders are allowed to only sleep for 4 hours a night and another hundred are allowed to sleep for 7 hours a night. During the day, the soldiers are tested for marksmanship on the firing range. Name the control group _________________________________________________ Name the experimental group ____________________________________________ Name the independent variable __________________________________________ Name the dependent variable ____________________________________________ . . . Soldiers with 7 hours sleep Soldiers with 4 hours sleep Amount of sleep given Score on the firing range

  16. 4th Step: Data Analysis • Collect data to either support/reject your hypothesis • No hypothesis is proven after 1 experiment Without music With music

  17. 5th Step: Conclusion • Your findings could be shared and repeated by others • Theory develops over time • Theory = long standing hypothesis • Theories and hypotheses change based on new information

  18. Recap • Place the 5 steps of the scientific method in order from start to finish. Data analysis, Observation, Conclusion, Experimentation, Hypothesis • In which stage of the scientific method are graphs usually created? • In which stage of the scientific method are the two variables identified? • Which variable is the difference between the control and experimental group? • Which group of an experiment is used for comparison and contains no changes? • How many independent variables should exist in a well designed experiment? • What is the data collected from the independent variable called? • Vocabulary: Science, Scientific method, Hypothesis, Control group, Experimental group, Independent variable, Dependent variable, Theory

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