1 / 26

The Scientific Method Chpt. 1

The Scientific Method Chpt. 1. Science is the organised and objective study of the physical, material and living world. three main areas – physics, chemistry and biology. What is Biology???. The word Biology comes from two Greek words: BIOS meaning LIFE and

spence
Download Presentation

The Scientific Method Chpt. 1

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. The Scientific Method Chpt. 1

  2. Science • is the organised and objective study of • the physical, material and living • world. • three main areas – physics, chemistry • and biology.

  3. What is Biology??? The word Biology comes from two Greek words: BIOS meaning LIFE and LOGOS meaning A STUDY *Biology: is the study of living things.

  4. Biology has many different areas of study Anatomy Biochemistry Botany Ecology Genetics Microbiology Physiology Zoology Taxonomy Cytology

  5. Anatomy • the study of the • internal and external • structure of plants and • animals

  6. Biochemistry • the study of the • chemical processes • and products • involved in • metabolism

  7. Botany • the study of plant • structure, physiology, • distribution and • classification

  8. Ecology • a study of how • living things relate • to each other and • to their • environment

  9. Genetics • a study of the • structure and function • of genes and their • transmission from • parents to offspring

  10. Microbiology • a study of small • living things, i.e. • micro-organisms

  11. Physiology • a study of the functions of • living organisms and their • parts

  12. Zoology • a study of animal physiology, structure, • habits, classification and distribution

  13. Taxonomy • Classification of organisms • Cytology • Is the study of cells

  14. All of the previously discussed areas can be subdivided again providing more specific areas of study: • Microbiology: bacteriology, mycology, • virology. • Anatomy: zootomy (animal anatomy), • phytotomy (plant anatomy).

  15. The Scientific Method • The Scientific Method: • is an attempt at using an organised • approach to solve problems. • based on the concept of asking • questions and searching for answers.

  16. Process of the Scientific Method The following steps are used where possible to solve problems: Observation* Hypothesis Experimentation Result Interpretation Conclusion *Theory *Principle

  17. Process of the Scientific Method • 1. Observation: • * most important part of the scientific method • obtained a) directly by our senses. • b) indirectly by the use of equipment which are basically extensions of • those senses. • 2. Hypothesis: • is an educated guess based on observations. • should a) account for all the facts which have been • observed. • b) lead to the prediction of new information • generally stated in the form of an If...., then... statement.

  18. Process of the Scientific Method • 3. Experimentation: • experiment designed to test hypothesis. • 4. Result: • results should be written down and recorded so that • they can be examined and analysed by others. • results will either support or contradict a hypothesis. • 5. Interpretation: • results of experiment are collected, recorded and • analysed.

  19. Process of the Scientific Method • 6. Conclusion: • data from experiment is interpreted to reach a • conclusion. • you state whether your prediction was confirmed or • not and try to explain your results.

  20. Process of The Scientific Method Theory If a hypothesis is continually supported by many different experiments it may then be called a theory. Principle When a theory has stood the test of time and is valid under all conditions it may then be termed as a principle or law.

  21. Process of the Scientific Method • Finally: • Relating Conclusion to existing knowledge: • Conclusion should tie in with existing knowledge of the topic being examined. • On the basis of conclusion reached, the hypothesis is • - supported if results agree fully • - changed if results partly agree • - rejected if results contradict it • Reporting and Publishing results: • Experiments are published in order to allow them to • be repeated. • Often published: in journals, magazines, newspapers, on internet, on television etc.

  22. The Scientific Method

  23. Principles of an Acceptable Experiment 1. Careful Planning and Design: - in general only a single factor is tested, all other influences (factors) should be kept constant. 2. Safety: - important factor when designing any experiment.

  24. Principles of an Acceptable Experiment 3. Control Experiment: a) used to provide a standard against which the actual experiment can be judged. b) only one difference between the control and the actual experiment.

  25. Principles of an Acceptable Experiment • 4. Experiments must be fair: • personal opinion should not influence the procedures or interpretation of the results. Use of the following is important to ensure a fair test: • - sample size • - random selection • - repeating experiment • - double blind testing

  26. Limitations of the Scientific Method • The scientific method is limited by problems such as: • insufficient knowledge • design of experiment • difficulty in interpreting results • changes in nature • accidental discovery • faulty conclusions • human error • personal bias • ethical issues

More Related