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Scientific Method, Research, and Laboratory Reports

Learn about the scientific method, research techniques, and how to write effective laboratory reports. This guide will provide step-by-step instructions and tips for making accurate observations, formulating hypotheses, analyzing data, and drawing conclusions. Improve your research skills and gain a deeper understanding of the scientific process.

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Scientific Method, Research, and Laboratory Reports

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  1. Scientific Method, Research, andLaboratory Reports White Plains High School Science Department

  2. Why Research? • Most of what we know about science is the direct result of someone else’s research. (EX: solar system) • If these scientific problems have already been addressed, we can use these past experiences for our benefit.

  3. The Scientific Method • Set of steps used to answer a scientific problem. • There are many variations on the exact steps to the scientific method.

  4. The Scientific Method: Steps 1. Observations: Every question starts with observations of the world around you. This applies to science, too! 2. Question/Problem/Purpose: What question are you trying to answer? What problem do you want to solve?

  5. The Scientific Method: Steps 3. “Hypothesis”: • “a proposed scientific explanation for a set of observations” (Biology, p.5) • You make a scientific, educated guess to answer your opening question about your observations. • Can be based on: • Prior knowledge • Logical inferences (“logical interpretation based on prior knowledge or experience”) • Imaginative guesses

  6. Hypothesis • How have you been taught to write a hypothesis? • If _(this happens)______ then _(this will be the result) , because _(scientific reasoning_. • Null hypothesis: If (2 conditions), then there will be NO DIFFERENCE in (results) .

  7. Write a hypothesis for the question…. • What will happen if you are holding your book and you let go of it? (LAW! ) • What is the most popular favorite pet among my friends?

  8. The Scientific Method: Steps (cont.) 3. Materials/Procedures/Plan: • What materials did you use to perform the experiment? • Exactly what did you do? • Someone should be able to duplicate your results by following your step-by-step instructions recorded here.

  9. The Scientific Method: Steps (cont.) 4. Results/Data/Observations: • Record your observations from your experiment. • Results must be accurate, valid, and reliable. RECORD IT AS IT IS!!! (not as is “should” be) • Data can be analyzed easiest when it is in table, chart, and graph form.

  10. The Scientific Method: Steps (cont.) 5. Conclusion: • Did you prove or disprove your hypothesis? • “The data supported my hypothesis.” • “The data did not support my hypothesis, but I learned……” • Answer any post-lab questions.

  11. The Scientific Method: Steps (cont.) 6. Next Step/New Question: • How could you do this differently? • What new questions do you have now? • What could you do to get answers to those questions?

  12. All information and answers in this class should be written in complete sentences! • “Yes” –OR- • “Yes, a change in temperature indicates a chemical change.” • “Density and color” –OR- • “Density and color are size-independent properties because they don’t change when the size changes.”

  13. Assignments • A. LIST an OBSERVATION that could be made using each of your senses: sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell. B. ADD at least one INFERENCE that could be made from each observation. • Read Section 1-2 (pp.8-15). Do the “Writing in Science” assignment found in the Section Assessment on p.15.

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