On your paper draw a picture of a what you think of when you here the word: Scientist

Science: Method or Magic

The Scientific Method: A model or guide to solve problems The way scientist learn and study around them. The process involves asking questions and coming up with answers.

Overview of the Scientific Method State the problem Research the problem (Background Information) Form a hypothesis Test the hypothesis (Materials & Procedures) Record observations Draw conclusions

Hypothesis Procedure Research Problem Conclusions Observations Problem Conclusions

Problem or Objective: States the purpose of the investigation. It intelligently answers the question “Why are you doing this?” It is always stated in the form of a QUESTION. You can not solve a problem before you know what it is.

Example: You wake up in the morning with a sore throat and you think: “Why does my throat hurt?”

Gather Research: Background Information: In this step, we ask, “What do I know about my problem” and “What will it take to solve my problem”. This step requires using the library, the Internet, interview experts, or textbooks.

Example: You visit your doctor. You tell him all your symptoms. He will eliminate unnecessary information and consider all choices of likely illnesses.

Form a hypothesis: This is an “educated guess”. A possible solution that can be tested. It is based on the information that you gathered in the research phase. State this in the form of a complete sentence. It states what will happen or what the answer might be for your objective (problem).

Example: The doctor may suggest that you have strep throat.

Designing the Investigation: In a scientific investigation, there is a variable and a control. A variable is something that can bring about a change in an experiment. (temperature, brightness of light or length of day) A control is a standard for comparison.

Example: Doctor takes a throat culture by swabbing the back of your throat. He swabs the culture on a petri dish. He observes the culture for 24 hours and records observations.

Observations: Just the facts, and only the facts. This is where you describe things as objectively as possible (things like color, odor, temperature, etc.) This is also where you put your data along side your procedures. Sometimes it is helpful to record your data in a table or chart format. For almost all investigations, you will be asked to construct a graph of your observations.

Two Types of Observations: Quantitative Qualitative

Quantitative Observations These are observations that can be measured. Examples include number present, the length of something, the mass of something, the height, etc.

Qualitative Observations: These are observations that describe some quality of the specimen. Examples include texture, color, etc.

Example: The doctor observes the growth in the petri dish for 24 hours and records the type of growth seen.

Conclusion: The results of your investigation. If your hypothesis was correct, explain this. If your hypothesis was incorrect, your experiment failed. Explain where errors could have occurred and propose another investigation that might be conducted. Write a concluding sentence(s) that summarizes the results of the investigation. This is usually a paragraph of 3-5 good sentences.

Example: The doctor calls and tells you that the culture that grew in the petri dish is positive. This means that you do have strep throat. He prescribes medication to treat the bacteria.

Decide which part of the Scientific Method is being described below: A scientist wants to find out why sea water freezes at a lower temperature than fresh water. PROBLEM The scientist goes to the library and reads a number of articles about the physical properties of solutions. RESEARCH THE PROBLEM. The scientist travels to a nearby beach and observes the conditions there. The scientist notes the taste of the sea water and other factors such as waves, wind, air pressure, temperature and humidity. OBSERVATIONS After considering the information, the scientist sits at a desk and writes, “My guess is that sea water freezes at a lower temperature than fresh water because sea water has salt in it.” HYPOTHESIS

The scientist goes back to the laboratory and does the following: Fills each of two beakers with 1 L of fresh water. Dissolves 35 g of table salt in one of the beakers. Places both beakers in a refrigerator whose temperature is –1C. Leaves the beakers in the refrigerator for 24 hours. PROCEDURE After 24 hours, the scientist examines both beakers and finds the fresh water to be frozen. The salt water is liquid. OBSERVATIONS The scientist writes in a notebook, “It appears as if salt water freezes at a lower temperature than fresh water does.” CONCLUSIONS The scientist continues, “Therefore, I suggest that the reason sea water freezes at a lower temperature is that sea water contains dissolved salts while fresh water does not.” CONCLUSIONS

Once again, identify the parts of the Scientific Method: A scientist was interested in studying how far bullfrogs can jump. He brought a bullfrog into his laboratory, set it down and commanded, "Jump, frog, jump!"    The frog jumped across the room. The scientist measured the distance, then noted in his journal, "Frog with four legs, jumped eight feet."             PROBLEM PROCEDURE OBSERVATION CONCLUSION

The frog struggled a moment, then jumped a few feet. THESE FINDINGS LED TO ANOTHER EXPERIMENT: Then he cut the frog's front legs off.  Again he ordered, "Jump, frog, jump." The frog struggled a moment, then jumped a few feet. After measuring the distance, the scientist noted in his journal, "Frog with two legs-jumped three feet."             PROCEDURE OBSERVATION CONCLUSION

Next, the scientist cut off the frog's back legs. Once more, he shouted, "Jump, frog, jump!" The frog just lay there. "Jump, frog, jump!" the scientist repeated. NOTHING. The scientist noted in his journal,  "Frog with no legs, lost its hearing."   PROCEDURE OBSERVATION OBSERVATION CONCLUSION

Lessons from the Frog Experiment: Even though right procedures are followed, if we are not careful, wrong conclusions can be drawn. Be sure to compare your conclusion with others around you.

Closing Question: Could you draw a picture of yourself? How would you change the picture of what you think of when hear the word: “SCIENTIST” Could you draw a picture of yourself?