NOTES Sci Method.doc

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ITP – Unit 1

III.OUTCOME 3: The Scientific Method

All disciplines of Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geology, etc ….) are based upon:

“O & E” … observation & Evidence

Because solid science relies upon “O & E”, science must have a consistent process to make observations and collect evidence.

This process is called the:

Scientific Method

PURPOSE VARIABLES EXPERIMENT MEASUREMENT INTERPRET PURPOSE VARIABLES Testable Variables:

Independent variable - cause Dependent variable –affect Controlled Variables:

Parts of the experiment you plan for … so they don’t affect the results.

EXPERIMENT

Control Test: No IV

(not all experiments have a Control Test) Experimental Test(s):

Has IV and DV Write Procedure

MEASUREMENT

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SCIENTIFIC METHOD

Scientific Method – A consistent process of approaching problems that relies on collecting observations and evidence.

Steps to the Scientific Method

A) Determine the PURPOSE (or PROBLEM) of the experiment. The purpose is written with the independent and dependent variable in it.

Example: What is the relationship between sunlight

(independent variable) and a plant’s rate of growth

(dependent variable)?

Become educated about your topic (do research or perform experiments)

Example: Research the data that already has been collected about the affects of sunlight on plant growth.

B) Form a HYPOTHESIS that relates to the question stated in the Purpose.

Hypothesis = a proposed solution to a problem.

Example: I think the plant that is exposed to sunlight will grow faster than the one that doesn’t receive sunlight. My research suggests that sunlight is necessary for plant growth.

C) EXPERIMENT

1) Identify the CONTROLLED VARIABLES – Parts of the experiment that you plan for so they don’t affect your results.

2) Identify the INDEPENDENT VARIABLE = The cause in the experiment.

3) Identify the DEPENDENT VARIABLE = The effect in the experiment.

Example:

- Independent variable: Sunlight.

- Dependent variable: Plant growth.

4) Identify theTEST GROUPS

a) CONTROL TEST = Part of the experiment with the independent variable taken out or changed so the results can be compared to the experimental groups. b) EXPERIMENTAL TEST(S) = Part(s) of the experiment

that has the independent and dependent variables in it.

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Control Test: Plant B – Gets no sunlight for 12 days.

Experimental Test: Plant A is allowed sunlight everyday for 12 days.

D) DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS.

- Data = information collected during an experiment. - Analyzing data often includes creating data tables and

graphs to help make sense of the data.

- When you write an analysis you explain your data in sentence form without making conclusions.

E) Make a CONCLUSION statement that:

PART1 . . . answers the question stated in the purpose. PART2 . . . includes a representative sample of data OR

specific references to the data.

Example: The data suggests that exposure to sunlight helps plants grow faster. Plant A was given sunlight for 12 days and grew 6 cm in that time. Plant B was not allowed

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P.S. – Unit 1

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I. OUTCOME 3: Scientific Method

All disciplines of Science

(

Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy, etc

….

)

are based upon:

“

O & E

”

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“O & E”

O

bservation

&

E

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“O & E”

observation & Evidence

Because “good” science relies

upon

“O & E”

, science must have

a consistent process to make

observations

and collect

evidence

.

This process is called the

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P

URPOSE

V

ARIABLES

E

XPERIMENT

M

EASUREMENT

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P

URPOSE

(Must have

IV &

DV

)

V

ARIABLES

1)

must have Testable

Variables:

Independent variable (IV) -

cause

Dependent variable (DV) –

effect

2) Controlled

Variables:

Parts of the experiment you

plan for … so they don’t

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E

XPERIMENT

Control Test:

No IV

(not all experiments have a Control

Test)

Experimental Test

(s)

:

Both IV and DV

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M

EASUREMENT

Careful Measurement of

Observations & Data

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SCIENTIFIC METHOD

Scientific Method – A

consistent process of

approaching problems that

relies on collecting

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SCIENTIFIC METHOD

Scientific Method – A consistent process of approaching problems that relies on collecting observations and evidence.

Steps to the SCIENTIFIC METHOD ….

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: Steps to the Scientific Method

A) Determine the PURPOSE (or PROBLEM) of the

experiment.

The purpose is

written with the

independent

and

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I. OUTCOME 2: Steps to the Scientific Method

Example: How does

sunlight

(independent

variable) affect

a

plant’s

growth speed

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

Become educated

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Example: Research the

data that already

has been collected

about the affects

of sunlight on

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B) Form a

HYPOTHESIS

that relates to the

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B) Form a HYPOTHESIS that answers the question stated in the Purpose.



Hypothesis=

a

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Hypothesis– a proposed solution to a problem.

Example Hypothesis:

The

plant that is exposed to

sunlight will grow faster

than the one that doesn’t

receive sunlight. My

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Hypothesis– a proposed solution to a problem.

C) EXPERIMENT

… Preparing

and Performing the

Experiment(s)

1) Identify the CONTROLLED

VARIABLES -

Parts of the

experiment you plan

for … the same for

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C) EXPERIMENT … Preparing and Performing the Experiment(s)

1) Identify the CONTROLLED VARIABLES -

Parts

of the experiment you plan for … the same for

all test groups.

2)

Identify the

INDEPENDENT

VARIABLE

- The

cause

in

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1) Identify the CONTROLLED VARIABLES - Parts of the

experiment you plan for … so they don’t affect the results. 2) Identify the INDEPENDENT VARIABLE - The cause of the

experiment.

3)

Identify the

DEPENDENT

VARIABLE

– The

effect

in

the experiment.

Example:

Independent variable:

Sunlight

.

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2) Identify the INDEPENDENT VARIABLE - The cause of the experiment.

3) Identify the DEPENDENT VARIABLE – The effect of the experiment.

Example:

Independent variable: Sunlight. Dependent variable: Plant growth.

4) Identify the

TEST

GROUPS

(

Only 2 types of test groups

exist

):

a)

CONTROL

TEST

–

Part of

the experiment with the

independent variable

taken out OR changed

so

the control-test results

can be compared to the

results from the

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4) Identify the TEST GROUPS (Only 2 types of test groups exist):

a) CONTROL TEST = Part of the experiment with the independent variable taken out or changed so the results can be compared to the experimental groups.

b)

Identify the

EXPERIMENTAL

TEST(S)

= Part(s) of the

experiment that has

both the

independent

and

dependent

variables

in it.

Example:

Control Test: Plant B – Gets no

sunlight for 12 days.

Experimental Test(s): Plant A

is allowed sunlight everyday

for 12 days.

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- Data = information or

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- Data – information collected during an experiment.

- ANALYSIS: Analyzing data

often includes creating

data tables

and

graphs

to

help make sense of the

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- Analyzing data often includes creating data tables and graphs to help make sense of the data.

-

WRITING the

ANALYSIS

:

When you write an

analysis you explain

the patterns your data

shows . . .

in sentence

form

. . . without

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Example Analysis:

Plant A

grew 6 cm in 12 days

(from 6cm to 12 cm).

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E) Make a CONCLUDING

STATEMENT that has TWO

parts:

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E) Make a CONCLUSION statement that has TWO parts: PART1. . . answers the question stated in the purpose.

PART 2 . . .

includes a

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E) Make a CONCLUSION statement that:

PART1 . . . answers the question stated in the purpose. PART2 . . . includes a representative sample of data OR