Observation & Inference

All science begins with observations and inferences made about natural phenomena

What does phenomena mean? phenomena is a fact or event that can be observed

Observations A fact that you can experience with your 5 senses You can measure it! Qualitative and Quantitative

Qualitative Observations You make qualitative observations using your five (5) senses. Smell Touch Taste Hearing See

Qualitative Observations What do qualitative observations describe?

Qualitative Observations What do qualitative observations describe? What something smells like, What something tastes like, What something looks like, What something feels like What something sounds like

Quantative Observations Are made using numerical details. 1.) Things you can count. 2.) Things you can measure.

Inference A conclusion or opinion based on an observation. can be used to predict future events. You can’t prove it through observations

Inference The man is sleeping. The sheep think is funny that the man is sleeping. The man went to the late movie last night. There are 10 sheep in the field. The sheep are going to run away now. Observation Inference Inference Observation Inference

Inference A conclusion based on your observation. Used to create a hypothesis A prediction is an inference about the future.

The Scientific Method -A series of steps taken to investigate a natural occurrence or solve a problem. Used to answer a question

Steps of the Scientific Method Ask a question / Try to solve a problem What do you want to find out? The who, what, where, why, when and how. Develop a question based on observations of the world around you.

Steps of the Scientific Method Observation and Research: Scientists make observations and research their topic of interest.

Steps of the Scientific Method 3. Create/develop a Hypothesis; An “educated guess” or prediction based on observations and previous knowledge. Predict a possible answer to the problem or question you have asked.

Steps of the Scientific Method 3. Create/develop a Hypothesis; This is an “if…..then…” statement

19. A student hypothesized that lettuce seeds would not germinate (begin to grow) unless they were covered with soil. The student planted 10 lettuce seeds under a layer of soil and scattered 10 lettuce seeds on top of the soil. The data collected are shown in the accompanying table. To improve the reliability of these results, the student should

Hypothesis If Then Because

Steps of the Scientific Method 4. Experiments: Test a hypothesis. You must be able to measure the results of the experiment (either qualitative or quantitative). Must be repeatable, with the same set of directions Experiments are conducted many, many times. Why?

A controlled experiment always contains Constant/ controlled Variables 4. Experiments: A controlled experiment always follows the same set of procedures every time. A controlled experiment always contains Independent Variable Dependent Variable Constant/ controlled Variables Control Group

A controlled experiments always include: Independent variable – The thing you change/manipulate on purpose Dependent variable- The thing you are measuring in the experiment. Constant/controlled variables – parts of the experiment that stay the same every time. No Changes.

4. Experiments: Control Group- A trial that does not get manipulated (changed). Why is a control group important in an experiment? To make sure that nothing else is affecting or changing the experiment.

Steps of the Scientific Method 5. Results Collection of data & analyzing the results Data-what you observed. What you could measure. Results- analyzed data put in graphs to show relationships and comparisons

Steps of the Scientific Method 6. Conclusion: States the facts! Does the data support your hypothesis? Conclusions contain; a statement that accepts or rejects the hypothesis. ideas for further study and possible improvements to the experiment.

All together now…

Repeating Investigations It is important for scientists to repeat their investigations over and over again. Why do you think they do this? So scientist are sure their results were from the manipulated variable and not just a one time occurrence.

Scientific Theories As evidence from many experiments and investigations starts to build up, a particular hypothesis may become SO well supported with data and evidence that scientists considerate it A Scientific Theory.

Scientific Theories A theory is a set of related hypotheses that have been tested and confirmed many times by many scientists. A theory is a generally accepted scientific explanation to a natural phenomena like Acid rain.

Exit Slip Theory Hypothesis