Scientific Investigations SC.8.N.1.1 Today we are going to talk about Scientific Investigations…. We’re going to discuss the Scientific Method and its importance in dealing with problem solving. Define a problem from the eighth grade curriculum using appropriate reference materials to support scientific understanding, plan and carry out scientific investigations of various types, such as systematic observations or experiments, identify variables, collect and organize data, interpret data in charts, tables, and graphics, analyze information, make predictions, and defend conclusions.

RECORD & ANALYZE RESULTS Scientific Method PROBLEM STATEMENT RESEARCH THE PROBLEM The Scientific Method involves a series of steps designed to help support a theory or hypothesis HYPOTHESIS EXPERIMENT RECORD & ANALYZE DATA The Scientific Method is a logical problem solving technique used to investigate natural occurrences, make decisions, and form new ideas. The Scientific Method involves a series of steps designed to help support a theory or hypothesis RECORD & ANALYZE RESULTS FORM A CONCLUSION

Ask a question or make an observation Scientific Method 1st Ask a question or make an observation What are you curious about, or what have you seen that makes you wonder? The first step is to state the problem being researched. The problem must be testable and written in the form of a question. In order for an experiment to be testable it must have an identified control group and an experimental group. The key is identifying and managing the three requirements involved in the experimental group. The three requirements include the independent (test), the dependent (outcome), and the constant variables.

Scientific Method Research the problem 2nd Research the problem The problem must be researched using appropriate reference materials to support scientific understanding The second step involves researching the problem. The problem must be researched using appropriate reference materials to support scientific understanding. Research may be collected from various resources including: books, the internet, personal experiences, initial investigations, or expert opinions on the subject.

Scientific Method Put Hypothesis 3rd Put Hypothesis The hypothesis is an educated guess based on the research from the previous step The third step is creating a hypothesis. The hypothesis is an educated guess based on the research from the previous step. The hypothesis may be written as a simple “If and then” statement that predicts the outcome of the experiment. A hypothesis is valuable because they lead to further investigations, even if they turn out not to be supported by the data.

Scientific Method Design Experiment Listing and gathering materials + Developing and carrying out the procedures The fourth step of the scientific method is designing the experiment. This step involves listing and gathering materials, developing and carrying out the procedures, as well as, identifying a control group and an experimental group.

Experiment Components Materials Procedure Control group Experimental group Experiment components are Materials, Procedure, Control group, & Experimental group…. We’re going to talk about each in much more details..

Experiment Components Materials The materials list consists of specific information about the amounts, sizes, and colors of each item that will be used in the experiment. The materials are a list of all the supplies used to carry out the experiment. The materials list consists of specific information about the amounts, sizes, and colors of each item that will be used in the experiment.

Experiment Components Procedure The procedure is a numbered vertical list of the step-by-step directions for carrying out the experiment. The procedure is a numbered vertical list of the step-by-step directions for carrying out the experiment. The procedure is clearly written with details so concise that another experimenter could easily perform the same experiment. The experiment must be repeated a minimum of three times (three trials) for reliability.

Experiment Components Control group The control group is the part of the experiment that remains the same so that it may be used as a comparison to the independent variable. The control group is the part of the experiment that remains the same so that it may be used as a comparison to the independent variable. The control is the variable that is usually the "normal" outcome as it compares to the outcome being explored in the independent variable(s). In this picture, A is the control group !!

Experiment Components Experimental group Variables Independent variables Dependant Variables The experimental group includes the variables in the experiment. The independent variable (test variable) is the variable that is changed on purpose in order to test its affects against the control group. The key to any controlled experiment is that the constant variables (controlled variable) be kept the same during the experiment. Controlling the variables ensures that any change that occurs is only because of the independent variable. The controlled variables are to be kept the same for both, the control and the independent groups. The dependent variable is the variable being measured in your experiment. This variable will change based on the independent variable.

This data may be organized in a journal, table, Scientific Method 5th Organize Data This data may be organized in a journal, table, chart, or graph The fifth step is to record and organize the collection of data and/or observations. The information collected is called data. This data may be organized in a journal, table, chart, or graph.

Scientific Method Analyze Results Comparative phrases such as, “more than,” “less than,” etc. are instrumental in writing a results paragraph The sixth step is to analyze the results. Looking at your data, you must figure out exactly what the information means. The results of the experiment should be written based on the collected data, both quantitative and qualitative, of the experiment. Comparative phrases such as, “more than,” “less than,” etc. are instrumental in writing a results paragraph.

Scientific Method Conclusion At this stage, you must write a summary that indicates whether or not the results support or fail to support your original hypothesis The final step of the scientific method is to draw a conclusion. At this stage, you must write a summary that indicates whether or not the results support or fail to support your original hypothesis. It is always important to understand that science does not offer conclusive proof of a knowledge claim.

Place the steps in order: Procedure Place the steps in order: Place one drop of food coloring into the cups of water Pour 20 milliliters of water into each cup Label three cups, A, B, and C Stir the food coloring in each of the cups A B C D Label three cups, A, B, and C STEP 1: Pour 20 milliliters of water into each cup STEP 2: To work through a scientific experiment, you must complete a series of steps or procedures. Let’s see if you can list each step of this particular experiment in the order in which they belong. Step one? (Wait for student response.) Good job. Step one is to label three cups A, B, and C. How about step two? (Wait for student response.) That’s absolutely right. Pour 20 milliliters of water into each cup. Step three? (Wait for student response.) Excellent. Place one drop of food coloring into the cups of water. And step four? (Wait for student response.) Perfect. Stir the food coloring in each of the cups. Place one drop of food coloring into the cups of water STEP 3: Stir the food coloring in each of the cups STEP 4: