The Scientific Method and SCIENCE!!!!!!

WHAT IS SCIENCE?

THE PROCESS OF SYSTEMATIC EXPLORATION IS CALLED THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD SCIENCE IS A WAY OF EXPLORING THE NATURAL WORLD IN A SYSTEMATIC (ORDERLY) WAY. THE PROCESS OF SYSTEMATIC EXPLORATION IS CALLED THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

WHAT IS THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD?

So is it these exact steps and only these? Scientific Method 1st –make observations 2nd – state problem or question in question form 3rd – form hypothesis 4th – test hypothesis (research/experiment) 5th – Data-gather and analyze data 6th – draw conclusions from data So is it these exact steps and only these?

ASKING QUESTIONS There are different types of questions: CAUSAL: -inquires into the cause(s) or explanation(s) of a phenomenon by asking “WHY” or “HOW” something happens or is the way it is. DESCRIPTIVE: -asks “WHAT”, “WHERE”, “WHEN”, & “WHO” or some observed object, event or situation.

WHAT TYPES OF QUESTIONS ARE THESE? Why is the sky blue? Who are my lab partners? What am I going to learn in this class? How does it get so hot in Arizona? When does school start? How many planets are there? ARE ALL “HOW” AND “WHY” QUESTIONS CAUSAL?

Possible explanations are…. HYPOTHESES

THE DEFINITION OF A HYPOTHESIS IS…. A POSSIBLE EXPLANATION THAT CAN BE TESTED. IT IS NOT A GUESS.

THE EARLY RISER SCENARIO Justin is a 1 year old boy who was waking up at about 6 o’clock each morning. As far as his parents were concerned, this was too early. WHAT IS A CAUSAL QUESTION FOR THIS SCENARIO? GIVE A POSSIBLE EXPLAINATION (HYPOTHESIS) HOW WOULD YOU TEST THIS? WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN IF YOUR TEST IS CORRECT?

NOW YOU ARE READY TO WRITE A HYPOTHESIS STATEMENT IT IS WRITTEN IN AN IF….AND…THEN…. FORMAT. IF (BECAUSE)= HYPOTHESIS AND (IF) = HOW YOU WILL TEST YOUR HYPOTHESIS THEN (THEN) = EXPECTED OR PREDICTED RESULTS.

THEN…THIS IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF…THIS IS TRUE AND..WE DO THIS THEN…THIS IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN (BECAUSE) (IF) (THEN)

WHAT VARIABLES ARE INVOVLED IN AN EXPERIMENT? INDEPENDENT VARIABLE DEPENDENT VARIABLE CONSTANTS

INDEPENDENT VARIABLE THE VARIABLE THAT IS BEING CHANGED OR MANIPULATED An experiment should only have 1 I.V. but it can have levels of I.V. the “levels” of the independent variable are the different types of what you change

DEPENDENT VARIABLE THE RESPONDING VARIABLE; OR THE EFFECT. -This is what is being measured.

CONSTANTS ALL VARIABLES THAT ARE CONTROLLED TO REMAIN THE SAME THROUGHOUT THE EXPERIMENT.

IN A CONTROLLED EXPERIMENT YOU HAVE A CONTROL GROUP AND AN EXPERIMENTAL GROUP A group that is identical to the experimental group in every way, except the control group is not exposed to the independent variable, so you can compare the groups.

A Control Experiment You want to know if the color of light effects the growth of a plant. What is your: Independent Variable Dependent Variable Constants Control Group

Independent Variable: the color of light Dependent Variable: the amount of growth of the plant Constants: type of plant, type of soil, type of water, amount of light Control Group: a plant with white light

CONCLUSION Restate your hypothesis State if your hypothesis was supported or rejected Make 2 references to your data State and explain the correlation

EVALUATING INVESTIGATIONS: Scientists aren’t perfect, & neither are their investigations. Every scientific investigation can & should be evaluated (judged) for how well it’s put together. When reading about a scientific investigation or conducting your own, ask yourself questions about the design of the investigation.

QUESTIONS TO ASK... Does the hypothesis clearly state a relationship between an IV and a DV? Are the IV and DV clearly identified? Does the experimental procedure hold all other variables constant? Are there variables changing without the experimenters’ knowledge? Is a control group needed for this experiment? If so what are its qualities? Is the conclusion supported by the data? Or does the conclusion go too far & make a claim that the data do not support?

WHAT’S A THEORY? In every day conversation a theory means a possible explanation for something. We often mean that one explanation (theory) has about as good a chance of being correct as another.

In science, a THEORY is a dominant explanation of observed phenomena. It’s an explanatory story that’s supported by mountains of evidence & provides connections among several ideas. It is known to the scientific community & the world at large.

Pure Science vs. Applied Science

APPLIED SCIENCE DOING RESEARCH TO MAKE DISCOVERIES THAT WILL HAVE AN IMMEDIATE EFFECT IN PEOPLE’S LIVES. FOR EX: SCIENTISTS STUDYING THE STRUCTURE OF THE AIDS VIRUS OR THE “BIRD FLU” VIRUS ARE CONTRIBUTING TO EFFORTS TO MAKE VACCINES.

PURE SCIENCE DOING RESEARCH SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY ARE CURIOUS ABOUT HOW THE NATURAL WORLD WORKS. EX: THE “STRING THEORY”= POSES THAT THE UNIVERSE IS MADE UP OF 10 OR EVEN 26 DIMENSIONS.

BREAKTHROUGHS IN PURE SCIENCE OFTEN PROVIDE THE GROUNDWORK OF WORK IN APPLIED SCIENCE. EX: ISAAC NEWTON DEVELOPED HIS 3 LAWS OF MOTION & THE LAW OF UNIVERSAL GRAVITATION LARGELY BECAUSE HE WAS CURIOUS ABOUT THE LAWS BY WHICH THE PHISICAL WORLD WORKED. HIS LAWS HAVE BEEN APPLIED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIES, COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES, & EVEN SPACE EXPLORATION.