What is science The Scientific Method Unit 1 What is science The Scientific Method

What is science? Science is a process of gathering knowledge about the world around us Goal of science: To understand and investigate the natural world, and to explain events and phenomena in the natural world.

Science is different because… It is an organized way of using evidence to learn about the natural world. Concepts or ideas must be testable It is not a set of truths that never change It is a set of stable ideas that can change with new evidence Science is an ongoing process

The Scientific Method Why is it so important to follow this method? Scientific ideas MUST be testable and repeatable. The scientific method is the common process for establishing these ideas.

Think about the gum lab….. The Scientific Method Think about the gum lab….. Ask a question Gather background information Can be gathered through research or the senses Construct a hypothesis Hypothesis is a prediction that suggests a solution to the question/problem If…then…will happen Must be testable

The Scientific Method Conduct an experiment to test the hypothesis ****Must be written step-by-step**** Materials: List of everything used Procedure: Numbered steps. Exactly what you did and how you did it. Must be repeatable Variables: Controlled- Constant (doesn’t change) Independent- Manipulated (is changed) Dependent- the response or data

The Scientific Method Record and analyze data Types of Data: Must be organized into chart, table, or graph Types of Data: Quantitative: Expressed as numbers, obtained by counting and measuring Exact temperature, Weight, Height, Number of stems Qualitative: Descriptions that involve characteristics that can’t usually be counted Shiny/Dull, Old/New, Blue/Purple/Green Inference: Logical interpretation based on prior knowledge or experience/observation. Observation: What you can physically see.

Boy in the Pond Worksheet Place an ‘I’ after statements that are inferences, and an ‘O’ after the statements that are observations.

The Scientific Method Draw a conclusion and communicate your results Did the data support or not support your hypothesis You are never proving that a hypothesis is true, only supporting it. Scientific Theory- Well tested hypothesis that has been repeatedly supported.

- What do you want to learn more about… Asking a QUESTION: - What do you want to learn more about… Which type of music will have the greatest benefit on a student’s grade: Hard rock, pop, or classical? #1

- What information can we uncover to help us form an educated guess? #2 Gather background INFORMATION: - What information can we uncover to help us form an educated guess?

Forming a HYPOTHESIS: #3 If students listened to classical music then it will improve their grades because I believe the melodies and soft tones promote learning. Forming a HYPOTHESIS: - Educated guess of an answer to the question - Should be an “If…then….” Statement (well supported) #3

a Conducting the EXPERIMENT: Materials #4 - Test your hypothesis - Written and carefully followed step-by-step experiment designed to test hypothesis 40 students 30 iPods 10 copies of: Led Zeppelin Katy Perry Bach’s Cello Suites 30 pre-tests 30 post-tests

c b Procedure - Step-by-step format - Numbered steps - Direct commands Administer pre-test to all students Begin unit on genetics Assign 3 groups of 10 students a soundtrack to listen to. 10 students get no music to listen to. Instruct students to study one hour a day – and only one hour a day – while listening to their assigned music etc… etc… c - Step-by-step format - Numbered steps - Direct commands -Repeatable b Procedure

c c Controlled Variable: student population, others? Independent Variable: types of music Dependent Variable: academic success 4) Control Group: students studying in absence of music Variables - State the controlled (constant), independent (manipulated), and dependent (responding) variables - Identify the control group if applicable

ANALYZE RESULTS: -Interpret the information collected during the experiment -Data includes charts, tables, PICTURES, and graphs (excel) #5

- Possible sources of error? Drawing CONCLUSIONS: - Refer back to your hypothesis (supported, not supported? Why/why not?) - Possible sources of error? - What did you learn? #6