THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

Topic 1

WHAT IS SCIENCE?

- a body of knowledge based on observation

and experimentation

HOW DO WE ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SCIENCE?

We use the SCIENTIFIC METHOD

WHAT IS THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD?

- a series of steps to be followed when trying to reach a

conclusion

WHAT ARE THE STEPS?

1. Ask a question2. Do Research3. Form a Hypothesis4. Perform an Experiment5. Collect and Analyze

Data6. Make a Conclusion

1. ASK A QUESTION

- questions usually come from

observations you make about your

surroundings

WHAT’S AN OBSERVATION?

- an observation is information gathered using one or many of your senses

THE SENSES

How many do you have? 5

EXAMPLES OF QUESTIONS/ PROBLEMS…•Why do leaves change color in the fall?•What is a rainbow?•How did the Grand Canyon form?

2. DO RESEARCH

You can use • the Internet• Research

journals• periodicals

3. FORM A HYPOTHESIS

- an educated prediction about the outcome of an experiment

HYPOTHESIS…

These statements must include…1. If 2. thenex) If salt crystals are broken into smaller pieces then they will dissolve faster in water.

4. DESIGN AN EXPERIMENT

Controlled experiment• only one variable at a

time is being changed• Variable- factor that

can change or be changed

2 TYPES OF VARIABLES

• Independent • Dependent

INDEPENDENT VARIABLE

variable that is changed by the experimenter

“I” change the independent

DEPENDENT VARIABLE

variable that changes because of the independent variable

dependent depends on the independent

THE CONTROL

the factor in an experiment that represents “normal” conditions and what you compare the experimental data to

CONSTANTS

Constants are factors that remain the same throughout the experiment

5. COLLECT AND ANALYZE DATA

All data must be included, you cannot OMIT anything

TYPES OF OBSERVATIONS

Objective- just the facts, no opinions are includedSubjective- personal opinions are included

OBJECTIVE VS SUBJECTIVEYOU DECIDE…

1. It’s 78° outside.2. This room is cold.3. Erin is short.4. His t-shirt is green.

objective

subjective

subjective

objective

INFERENCE

An inference is a conclusion that

logically follows a set of observations

READ THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH AND UNDERLINE THE SENTENCE THAT IS AN INFERENCE IN YOUR NOTES

THIS SUMMER HAS BEEN REALLY HOT. I ONLY WATERED MY GARDEN A COUPLE OF TIMES. THE LEAVES OF MY PLANTS ARE DRY AND THE EDGES ARE TURNING YELLOW AND BROWN. I DON’T THINK THEY ARE GOING TO PRODUCE ANY FLOWERS.

OBSERVATION VS INFERENCE

YOU DECIDE…

1. That cloud is gray.2. It looks like it’s

going to rain.3. It looks hot outside.

observation

inference

inference

TYPES OF GRAPHS

• Bar Graph

• Line Graph

GRAPH SETUP

• Give the graph a title• Label and scale the x- axis

- Independent variable data• Label and scale the y- axis

- Dependent variable data

6. MAKE A CONCLUSION

Compare hypothesis to experimental data• Hypothesis accepted• Hypothesis rejected

WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

Accepted hypothesis• Report results• Peer reviewRejected hypothesis• Start over