1 / 77

Aim#5: What are the scientific methods used for Research? Textbook: 1.1-1.2 (p. 4-15)

Learn about the scientific method and its application in research. Explore the characteristics of life, observation vs inference, and how to form a hypothesis. Develop your understanding of the scientific inquiry process.

patriciamapes
Download Presentation

Aim#5: What are the scientific methods used for Research? Textbook: 1.1-1.2 (p. 4-15)

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. 9-17-13 Aim#5: What are the scientific methods used for Research?Textbook: 1.1-1.2 (p. 4-15) Aim Log: H.W. Characteristics of Life Quiz: Period 2/3- Friday 9/12 Period 8/9- Thursday 9/11 9/16-9/17: HW#4________ Complete the Web Activity: Characteristics of Life. Choose ANY 3 organisms and research how they carry out each of the characteristics listed on the handout. Please complete for Friday 9/12.

  2. Aim#5: What are the scientific methods used for Research? 9-18-13 HW#5 _______Read p.4-15 in your textbook.  Define the following terms, and give an example of each term ON YOUR VOCABULARY LIST: theory, science, pseudoscience, peer review, dependent variable, independent variable, observation, inference, hypothesis. (pseudoscience is not on your vocabulary list, please add it to the bottom).

  3. 1. What is Scientific Inquiry: • Development of explanations and theories • Based on unbiased observations and explanations • How do you know whether to believe • headlines like the one to the left of not? • How do you know when to trust claims in • advertisements, on tv, on the internet, • in newspapers, or in a magazine? • - What makes something science-based? • How do you know whether to believe • headlines like the one to the left of not? • How do you know when to trust claims in • advertisements, on tv, on the internet, • in newspapers, or in a magazine? • - What makes something science-based? • How do you know whether to believe • headlines like the one to the left of not? • How do you know when to trust claims in • advertisements, on tv, on the internet, • in newspapers, or in a magazine? • - What makes something science-based?

  4. Scientific Method songs • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPaGOHwv7mQ • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV8lSmIo4Ac (Nelly)

  5. 2) Observation vs Inference OBSERVATION • Information we gather using our senses • An interaction between your senses and the environment

  6. How do we make observations more accurate? Instruments extend our senses and make observations more accurate Examples: • Rulers • Microscopes • Telescopes • Thermometer

  7. 2) Observation vs Inference INFERENCE • A conclusion based on an observation; previous knowledge • The more observations you make, the more accurate your inferences will be.

  8. Note the Differences • In laboratory exercises, record observations NOT inferences • Let’s test your observation skills…

  9. “And Now Edgar is gone… Something’s going on around here”

  10. Observations can be difficult at times…

  11. How many legs does the elephant have?

  12. What do you see?

  13. What animal do you perceive? A Duck, Bunny, or BOTH?

  14. Ask a Question Observations-Use 5 senses to notice surroundings Inference- decisions based on observations Observations vs. Inferences You can observe a lot just by watching! Qualitative Observation- Quantitative Observation- Descriptions, shape, color, etc. Numbers and Measurements

  15. Make at least 2 quantitative and 2 qualitative observations about the picture below

  16. Experimental Questions must be testable: Which of these is testable? Does the Universe end? Does drinking soda make you fat?

  17. Answer the following questions based on the picture: • Are there cars parked on the side of the road? • What color is the pickup truck driving in the road? • Any minivans around? • What does the blue sign say? • What’s the speed limit? • Are there any pedestrians on the road? • Go back to picture and make 2 inferences based on your observations above.

  18. Aim#5: What are the scientific methods used for Research? HW#6________Read the Key Concepts (1.1-1.3) on p. 26-27.  Please write the questions and the answers to the following questions: p. 28:  7,9,10,12 p. 29: 19,22,29

  19. The boy is in the water. • The weather is cold. • The tree branch is broken. • The boy fell off the branch. • A goat is standing by the pond. • The boy fell off the rocks. • There is a sailboat in the water. • The sailboat belongs to the boy. • The tree by the pond has no leaves. • There are three rocks in the pond. • The tree on the pond is dead. • If it rains leaves will grow on the tree.

  20. Scientific Method Experimental Design

  21. What is the Scientific Method? • Scientists follow a set of steps in order to answer questions about the world around them. • There are 6 steps to the Scientific Method.

  22. Scientific Method 1. State the Problem 2. Form a Hypothesis 3. Experiment and Observe 4. Organize the Data 5. Interpret the data (inference) 6. Draw Conclusions

  23. 1. State the Question or Problem • What are you trying to find out? • Can you develop an experiment to answer your question? • Research the topic using reliable sources • Reliable: scientific journals • Not reliable: Wikipedia

  24. 2. Form a hypothesis • A hypothesis is an educated guess. It is what you think will happen. BASED ON OBSERVATION • The hypothesis is always a statement, never a question • Write it as an if/then statement • Ex: If a plant is exposed to more light, then it will grow faster. • ~ “If (Independent variable), then (dependent variable)” • ~ “If (cause-I perform this action), then (effect-I expect this outcome)”

  25. 3. Design an Experiment • An experiment is a step by step procedure used to test a hypothesis and find an answer to a question. • The experiment must be detailed and specific. Write it out in a numbered list ex: 1. 2. 3.

  26. 3. Design an Experiment • What materials will be used and what safety precautions will be followed? • How will you collect data? • How many subjects will be used? • How do make sure your data is valid? • Repeated trials • Use large numbers of subjects

  27. 4. Collect and Organize Data • Gather data throughout the experiment through observations • Keep data organized in tables and charts

  28. 5. Analyze and Interpret Data • Analyze data to see trends in data • Graphs – line and bar graphs. • Always use pencil

  29. 6. Form a conclusion • What happened in your experiment? • Does the data support or refute the hypothesis? • The data __________ my hypothesis. The data showed ___________. • Identify unexpected results. • Are your results reliable? • Can they be duplicated by other scientists?

  30. Future experiments • Did the experiment’s conclusion lead to more questions? The cycle can begin again.

  31. Aim#5: What are the scientific methods used for Research? HW#

  32. Controlled Experiments: Control vs. Experimental groups: What makes pill bugs an example of a good experimental organism? Independent vs. Dependent Variables: Constants (controlled variables):

  33. 1) Key Vocabulary There are 2 Groups in an experiment: 1. Control Group – the subjects who are kept under “normal” conditions. • Used as a basis for comparison. 2. Experimental Group – the subjects who are being tested.

  34. 1) Vocabulary There are 2 Variables in an experiment: 1. Independent Variable – the part of the experiment that is controlled by the person conducting the experiment. • “I” can change the independent variable. 2. Dependent Variable – the data that is being collected in the experiment.

  35. 1) Vocabulary • Constant: any other factor in an experiment that remains the same throughout. Ex: testing how length of light affects plant growth constants: amount of water, type of plant used, temperature of room

  36. 2) Practice Let’s put our knowledge of the Scientific Method to a realistic example that includes some of the terms you’ll be needing to use and understand.

  37. John watches his grandmother bake bread. He ask his grandmother what makes the bread rise. She explains that yeast releases a gas as it feeds on sugar.

  38. John watches his grandmother bake bread. He ask his grandmother what makes the bread rise.She explains that yeast releases a gas as it feeds on sugar. Design an investigation to test this hypothesis. Identify the variables What exactly will be changed? How will it be changed? What exactly will be measured? How will it be measured?

  39. Problem/Question John wonders if the amount of sugar used in the recipe will affect the size of the bread loaf?

  40. Observation/Research John researches the areas of baking and fermentation and tries to come up with a way to test his question. He keeps all of his information on this topic in a journal.

  41. Formulate a Hypothesis After talking with his teacher and conducting further research, he comes up with a hypothesis. “If more sugar is added, then the bread will rise higher.”

  42. Hypothesis The hypothesis is an educated guess about the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Note: These variables will be defined in the next few slides.

  43. Independent Variable The independent variable, is a factor that’s intentionally varied by the experimenter. John is going to use 25g., 50g., 100g., 250g., 500g. of sugar in his experiment.

  44. Dependent Variable The dependent variable is the factor that may change as a result of changes made in the independent variable. This is your data. In this case, it would be the size of the loaf of bread.

  45. Control Group In a scientific experiment, the control is the group that serves as the standard of comparison. The control group may be considered the normal situation where nothing has been changed.

  46. Control Group The control group is exposed to the same conditions as the experimental group, except for the variable being tested. All experiments should have a control group.

More Related