SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY/METHO

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THE GOAL OF SCIENCE

To investigate and understand the world.

To explain events in the natural world. To use those explanations to make

useful predictions. We do this with the SCIENTIFIC

METHOD!

WHAT IS THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD?

A systematic approach to problem solving.

A method that is applied in all scientific investigations.

The steps are a guideline more than an exact recipe.

BE OBSERVANT!

To be a good scientist you must be able to accurately see things around you. This will give you questions about the world and allow you to find the answers accurately as well

This is called making observations, it is an important part of science and an important part of life!

Are there cars parked on the sides of the road?

What color is the pickup truck driving in the road?

Any minivans around? What color is the paper sign? What's the speed limit? Are there any pedestrians on the road?

Are there cars parked on the sides of the road? YES

What color is the pickup truck driving in the road? BLUE

Any minivans around? YES 1 parked & 1 Driving

What color is the paper sign? BLUE What's the speed limit? 35 MPH Are there any pedestrians on the road?

NO

DATA: THE INFORMATION YOU WRITE DOWN FROM OBSERVATIONS

Quantitative data: expressed as numbers, obtained by counting or measuring.

Qualitative data:descriptive and doesn’t involve counting

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE

Make 2 qualitative and 2 quantitative observations about this picture:

Which type is more accurate?

GENERAL STEPS OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

Observe a problem or ask a question (Purpose)

Gather information on the problem. (Research)

Form a hypothesis. Perform experiment(s) to test the

hypothesis. Record and analyze data and make

observations. State a conclusion.

So…why do we have the scientific method???

BRAINSTORM SOME QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ABOUT THE UNIVERSE…

You have 1 minute….think of some random questions!

These are the questions science is all about!

We can learn accurate information about ANYTHING if we use scientific thought

This is why we study science

STORY TIME! A sheep farmer in Africa was

puzzled about the disappearance of some sheep on his farm. One sheep would disappear every week! He had to figure this out!!!

STATE THE PROBLEM This is the purpose of the investigation.

Usually in the form of a question.

PURPOSE QUESTIONHe wondered:

(PURPOSE) Why are my sheep disappearing?

GATHER INFORMATION (RESEARCH)

He investigated:(Research) What are some things that happen to sheep?-they escape-they get stolen-they get eaten-they get lost

GATHER INFORMATION (RESEARCH) Various resources: internet, text,

encyclopedias, interview, newspaper etc…

You must educate yourself about your investigation so that you can make an “educated guess” to test.

Just don’t believe everything you see/read!

DEVELOP A HYPOTHESIS

A hypothesis is an educated guess based on research.

The hypothesis is what you are testing in an investigation.

Use the farmer’s purpose question to make a hypothesis:

I think that….

.(write your hypothesis)

EXPERIMENT! the farmer decided to put up an

electric fence and check the fence line everyday.

VARIABLES – ANY PART OF AN EXPERIMENT THAT CAN CHANGE.

The “thing” that is being changed by you - by your manipulation.

There can only be ONE manipulated variable.

The “thing” that reacts (responds) to what you have changed (manipulated).

This is the “thing” you are measuring.

Manipulated Variable

Responding Variable

ONE MORE TYPE OF VARIABLE...

These are the “things” that stay the same throughout the investigation or experiment.

“Controlled Variables” aka “Constants”

RECORD AND ANALYZE DATA Data includes the measurements and/or

observations In this case…

the farmer counts his sheep every day and writes down how many there are and what day it is.

Then he checks his fence and records anything he finds

RECORD AND ANALYZE DATAAbout a week later, this is what he

found! D:

That is some strong evidence! But we need to know for sure!!!!

HOW CAN WE KNOW IT WAS THE SNAKE FOR SURE? The farmer can continue to count his

sheep every day to make sure that no more go missing

The farmer can also continue to check the fence every day

#1 best way to tell….check inside the snake!

IF YOU SQUEAMISH…

CLOSE YOUR EYES NOW!!!!

THE FARMER FOUND A PARTIALLY DIGESTED SHEEP INSIDE THE SNAKE!

SO WHAT HAPPENED TO THE FARMER’S SHEEP?

Write a conclusion for this outcome Include whether or not your hypothesis

was correct or incorrectExplain why your hypothesis was

incorrect

CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE JUST USED THE ENTIRE SCIENTIFIC

METHOD!YOU ARE NOW A

SCIENTIST!

LET’S APPLY WHAT WE’VE LEARNED….

APPLY WHAT YOU’VE LEARNED…..

To test whether aspirin can keep flowers fresher for a longer period of time, take two large beakers (labeled A and B) with equal amounts of water. Place one red carnation in each beaker. In beaker A put one tablet of aspirin. In Beaker B do not put aspirin. Identify the following with regard to this particular experiment.

What is the manipulated variable?Amount of Water Aspirin

Carnations Time the flowers stay fresh

Apply what you’ve learned…..

• To test whether aspirin can keep flowers fresher for a longer period of time, take two large beakers (labeled A and B) with equal amounts of water. Place one red carnation in each beaker. In beaker A put one tablet of aspirin. In Beaker B, do not put aspirin. Identify the following with regard to this particular experiment.

What is the responding variable?Amount of Water Size of beakers

Size of carnations Time the flowers stay fresh

Apply what you’ve learned…..

• ”If the amount of sunlight available increases, the rate of photosynthesis in a plant will also increase".

This statement is an example of a(n) Conclusion Purpose

Analysis Hypothesis

Apply what you’ve learned…..

• The effect of one minute of walking and one minute of running on the pulse and respiration rates of a human.

In this experiment, what is/are the responding variable(s)?

Speed TimePulse & Respiration Rates Walking & Running

Apply what you’ve learned…..

• If you were doing research on the deadly E-bola virus, which resource in the library would give the most current information?

Internet Book

World Book Encyclopedia Reader’s Guide

Apply what you’ve learned…..

• The effect of one minute of walking and one minute of running on the pulse of a human.

In this experiment, what is the controlled variable(s)? Speed

Time Pulse & Respiration Rates

Walking & Running

Apply what you’ve learned…..

• Scientists must analyze the results of an experiment before they:Form a hypothesis Perform experiment

Identify a control Draw a conclusion

APPLY WHAT YOU’VE LEARNED

A student plants one marigold seed into each of three pots. One pot she uses soil from a flower bed outside her house, one pot she plants with soil from a garden store, and one she plants into rocks. She uses a pitcher and waters each seed. She puts a pot on the window sill of her kitchen, one under the grow lights on her porch and one in a bag. She waits three days and makes her first observation.

This is not a well prepared experiment. On a sheet of paper write at least 3 reasons why this is not a scientifically sound experiment. Then we will discuss your answers.

CONGRATULATIONS! YOU’RE CORRECT!

SORRY, THAT’S INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

DISCUSSING…..

REMEMBER! THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD IS A SYSTEMATIC WAY TO SOLVE A PROBLEM OR ANSWER A QUESTION. IT’S A METHOD THAT CAN BE APPLIED IN YOUR DAILY LIVES, NOT JUST IN SCIENCE CLASS. SO TRY IT!!

THIS ISN’T THE END…IT’S REALLY ONLY THE BEGINNING….