The Scientific Method

Making Observations Observe the world around you Formulate questions based on what you observe Guess What? There is an odd object sitting on your table. On a piece of paper describe the object as thoroughly as possible. Making Observations

Research Project 1. Select a group of NO MORE THAN 4. 2. Choose a project and CAREFULLY read the description sheet. EACH PERSON needs to make a DETAILED list of observations about the project. After 5 minutes your group will meet and compile your observations. Turn in a master list of observations with all individual lists stapled to the back. You have 5 minutes! Research Project

Doing Scientific Research Once you have formed a question what information will you need to form a logical hypothesis. A hypothesis is not logical if you just randomly pull it from thin air Be able to justify why you chose a specific hypothesis Doing Scientific Research

Research May Include: Finding examples of similar problems Looking at research done by other scientists Drawing on knowledge you already have Research May Include:

All Sources Must Be Properly Cited For Internet Sources Use the Following Format: “Name of article.” Web Page. 19 August 2009. www.entire web address.com. “How to make vegetarian chili.” ehow.com. 19 August 2009. www.ehow.com/chili/veggies/making/. For additional information on proper citations: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/01/ All Sources Must Be Properly Cited

Research Project Go with your group to the sci comp lab Do research on your chosen project. You will turn in a group list of sources, cited correctly. You may print information if you feel it will be useful for the completion of your project. Research Project

What is a Hypothesis? a tentative statement that proposes a possible explanation to some phenomenon or event a testable statement which may include a prediction contains two variables: Independent and Dependent If skin cancer (dependent) is related to ultraviolet light (independent), then people with a high exposure to UV light will have a higher frequency of skin cancer. If leaf color change (dependent) is related to temperature (independent), then exposing plants to low temperatures will result in changes in leaf color.

Create a Hypothesis for Each of the Following Situations Use the If and Then Format!!

Situation 1 A sanitation department is nearby and the smell is coming from the same direction. The sanitation department does a series of steps to process the sewage and waste water. If the wind blows from the direction of the sanitation department, then the smell released from the sewage and wastewater will be carried with the wind.   

If 200 lb of salt is spread on the runway surface and test equipment Situation 2 A NASA engineer wants to see if salt will reduce the amount of ice and snow buildup on the runway. She spreads 200 lbs of salt on a test runway and simulates an airplane landing by using test equipment. She then repeats the test on a runway without applying salt.  If 200 lb of salt is spread on the runway surface and test equipment simulates an airplane landing on the treated surface, then the data will show a reduction in the amount of ice and snow on the track. or If 200 lb of salt is spread on the runway surface and test equipment simulates an airplane landing on the treated surface, then the data will show that traction is greater when the salt is applied prior to an airplane's landing.

Take Hypothesis Quiz!

Based on your observations and research write a valid hypothesis Based on your observations and research write a valid hypothesis. USE THE IF…THEN FORMAT! Join your group and decide which hypothesis to use. It may be one that a group member wrote or a combination of several ideas. Turn in your final hypothesis with all other hypotheses stapled to the back. Research Project

Setting Up a Valid Experiment

The Parts of an Experiment Control: a standard for comparison. The control should be the most normal situation For example if you are testing plant growth based on watering with pop, acid, and orange juice, you would use water as the control. Constant: the factors that do not vary in an experiment The constants are what make an experiment a fair contest All plants are in the same container, all receive the same amount of sunlight, all are kept at the same temperature, etc. Independent Variable: the factor that you are testing Ex: what you are watering the plants with (orange juice, pop, etc) Dependent Variable: what happens as a result of the independent variable Ex: the plants grow to different heights The Parts of an Experiment

Multiple Trials This makes your experiment more valid Mistakes and invalid data become less pronounced and you average data There will be error in any experiment, the key is to minimize it: Use appropriate measuring devices Be as accurate and as precise as possible Multiple Trials

USE THE METRIC SYSTEM

What is the Control Group? The group without the juice Bob thinks that a special juice will increase the productivity of workers. He creates two groups of 50 workers each and assigns each group the same task (in this case, they're supposed to staple a set of papers). Group A is given the special juice to drink while they work. Group B is not given the special juice. After an hour, Bob counts how many stacks of papers each group has made. Group A made 1,587 stacks, Group B made 2,113 stacks. What is the Control Group? The group without the juice What is the Independent Variable? Whether or not the workers receive juice What is the Dependent Variable Work productivity What should Bob’s conclusion be? The juice does not impact worker productivity. More trials needed for more conclusive data How could this experiment be improved? More trials Use a placebo

Frank notices that his shower is covered in a strange green slime   Frank notices that his shower is covered in a strange green slime. His friend Barney tells him that coconut juice will get rid of the green slime. Frank decides to check this out by spraying half of the shower with coconut juice. He sprays the other half of the shower with water. After 3 days of "treatment" there is no change in the appearance of the green slime on either side of the shower. What was the initial observation? Slime on the shower Does it appear that Frank did good research before he began his experiment? Why or why not?  No research indicates that coconut juice would be a good cleaner What is the Control Group?  the half of the shower not sprayed with coconut juice What is the Independent Variable?  treatment with coconut juice What is the Dependent Variable? Presence of scum What should Frank's conclusion be? Coconut juice is not effective as a scum remover

Billy believes that mice exposed to UV radiation will become extra strong. He decides to perform this experiment by placing 10 mice in a tanning bed for 10 seconds. He compared these 10 mice to another 10 mice that had not been exposed. His test consisted of a heavy block of wood that blocked the mouse food. He found that 8 out of 10 of the tan mice were able to push the block away. 7 out of 10 of the non-tan mice were able to do the same. What is the Control Group?  Those mice not exposed to UV radiation What is the Independent Variable?  Whether or not they receive UV radiation What is the Dependent Variable?  The strength of the mouse What should Billy's conclusion be? Inconclusive evidence…more trials needed

Research Project Write a numbered procedure for your project. Be specific. Someone who knows nothing about your project should be able to carry out the experiment by reading your instructions. When you are finished meet with your group and decide on a single procedure. It can be one already written or a combination of several. Be sure to label: Control Constants Independent Variable Dependent Variable 6. Turn in your final procedure and attach all individual procedures to the back. Research Project

Most Scientific Graphs Are Line Graphs Graphing

Extrapolate: extending the graph, along the same slope, above or below measured data.

Interpolate: predicting data between two measured points on the graph.

Best Fit Line: The lines on scientific graphs are usually drawn either straight or curved. These "smoothed" lines do not have to touch all the data points, but they should at least get close to most of them.

Writing Results and Conclusions Once the experiment is completed, the researcher must analyze and interpret the results and draw conclusions as to whether the results support the hypothesis.

The Results where data are presented as tables or figures Summarize data by addressing the relevant trends or patterns that pertain to the hypothesis. These summaries should be written clearly and concisely, avoiding personal pronouns. (DON”T SAY I OR WE!) Write quantitatively. USE NUMBERS! Use the data in your writing, such as, 65 percent of the green seeds germinated compared to only 45 percent of the yellow seeds. Present the strongest, most compelling data first and the weakest, least compelling data last. 

The Conclusion where interpretations are made and conclusions drawn about whether the results support or fail to support the hypothesis. Consider the following when writing this section: Again, state the strongest, most convincing data of your argument in support or rejection of the hypothesis first, followed by progressively weaker evidence. Refer to your data to provide evidence of your position. Include comments on how experimental errors might have affected your results and what could be done to reduce them. State the relevance of the experiment   Offer an evaluation or judgment Avoid ending with a cliché or introducing a new idea Don’t apologize for the report's weakness (if you see a weakness, fix it before you submit the report).