Scientific Method How Scientists Work

Objectives Understand how scientific work within Biology Review the definition of the scientific method Understand the process for the scientific method through the lens of Biology

How Scientists Work: Solving the Problems Much of biology deals with solving problems These problems can be environmental, ecological, health related, etc. No matter what types of problems are being studied, scientists use the same problem-solving steps called… The Scientific Method

Scientific Method Definition The scientific method is- A logical and systematic approach or process to problem solving.  An organized way of using evidence to learn about the natural world. http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://web.syr.edu/~ksegrave/Courses_pages/FieldBiology/FieldBioImages/method.gif&imgrefurl=http://web.syr.edu/~ksegrave/Courses_pages/FieldBiology/Science.html&h=175&w=225&sz=17&hl=en&start=11&um=1&tbnid=wdFWEsauzWqdBM:&tbnh=84&tbnw=108&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dscientific%2Bmethod%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rls%3DGGLB,GGLB:1969-53,GGLB:en%26sa%3DN http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method

Scientific Method Listing the Steps Make an Observation Define the Problem Research the Problem State the Hypothesis Experiment to test Hypothesis Collect and Record Data Analyze Data Draw Conclusions Determine Limitations Report Results If needed, Do more investigation

Scientific Method An Overview Question Research Hypothesis Procedure/ First What does the scientist want to learn more about? Then Research Gathering of information Scientific Method An Overview Next Hypothesis An “Educated” guess of an answer to the question Then Procedure/ Method Written and carefully followed step-by-step experiment designed to test the hypothesis Next Data Information collected during the experiment And And Observations Written description of what was noticed during the experiment Finally Conclusion Was the hypothesis correct or incorrect?

S C I E N T I F I C O V E R I W M E T H O D Form a Hypothesis Make Observations Define / Identify the Problem Test Hypothesis Perform Experiments New Experiments Do Experiments and Observations Support Hypothesis? YES Organize and Analyze Data Draw Valid Conclusions NO Communicate Results Faulty Experiments? S C I E N T I F I C Here is another example of how the steps may go…. Even though we show the scientific method as a series of steps, keep in mind that new information or thinking might cause a scientist to back up and repeat steps at any point during the process. O V E R I W M E T H O D http://whyfiles.larc.nasa.gov/text/kids/Research_Rack/images/scientific_method01.gif

Scientific Method Let’s break each of these steps down into their individual components: Ask Question Do Background Research Construct Hypothesis Think! Try Again Test with an Experiment http://www.sciencebuddies.org/mentoring/overview_scientific_method2.gif Analyze Results Draw Conclusion Hypothesis is True Hypothesis is False or Partially True Report Results

Special Note We will review some steps today and the remaining tomorrow---take good notes!

1. Observing Make an observation See something unusual As we all know, frogs have four legs. Make an observation See something unusual Frogs with incorrect number of legs! What’s up with these froggies? http://www.science.psu.edu/alert/Images/Kiesecker7_-02images/Deformed_frog_assorted_RASY.jpg

2. Questioning Recognize, state or define the problem Must be in the form of a question The obvious question is:  What is causing these deformities? http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2005/10/21_bensonl_research/images/truncfemur_large.jpg&imgrefurl=http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2005/10/21_bensonl_research/&h=225&w=300&sz=9&hl=en&start=7&um=1&tbnid=lA9c0bTzPYtApM:&tbnh=87&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dfrog%2Bdeformities%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rls%3DGGLB,GGLB:1969-53,GGLB:en%26sa%3DN http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/geology/leveson/core/graphics/nyc_mins2/qmarks.gif http://www.kidcrosswords.com/animated_dictionary/d_e_f/frog.gif

3. Researching Gather information related to the problem Read, observe, measure, take samples, etc. How frogs normally develop from eggs The % of frogs with the deformities Number of other species in the pond with deformities Previous or new pollutants in the pond Change in amount of UV (sunlight) exposure on eggs Etc. http://www.okc.cc.ok.us/biologylabs/Images/Scientific_method_images/frog.jpg

4. Hypothesizing A hypothesis is: An educated guess, trial answer, possible solution, prediction Must be a statement Must be testable or measurable Is based on your research and previous experience http://info.hartwick.edu/biology/def_frogs/Introduction/Exploration/explore.html#The%20obvious%20question http://www.science.psu.edu/alert/Images/Kiesecker7_-02images/Deformed_frog_assorted_RASY.jpg

Hypothesizing List possible explanations (alternative hypotheses) based on your previous experience (what you already know);  and on research you have done   all of the hypotheses must be testable http://info.hartwick.edu/biology/def_frogs/Introduction/Exploration/explore.html#The%20obvious%20question http://www.science.psu.edu/alert/Images/Kiesecker7_-02images/Deformed_frog_assorted_RASY.jpg

5. Experimenting Testing the hypothesis Pick the hypothesis that makes the most sense and is easy to test Then design a controlled experiment http://info.hartwick.edu/biology/def_frogs/Introduction/Exploration/explore.html#The%20obvious%20question http://www.tmbfree.com/images/graphics/clipart/froggy2.gif http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.frogcollecting.com/gallery/A2t.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.frogcollecting.com/gallery/gallery.html&h=97&w=80&sz=1&hl=en&start=8&um=1&tbnid=hR-tjkzZyAWtTM:&tbnh=81&tbnw=67&prev=/images%3Fq%3Danimated%2Bjumping%2Bfrog%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rls%3DGGLB,GGLB:1969-53,GGLB:en%26sa%3DN

Experimenting Go to the web site for Hartwick College to see the experiments and how the scientific method was actually used to find out the cause of recently found frog deformities. http://www.hartwick.edu/biology/def_frogs/Introduction/Exploration/explore.html http://info.hartwick.edu/biology/def_frogs/Introduction/Exploration/explore.html#The%20obvious%20question http://www.tmbfree.com/images/graphics/clipart/froggy2.gif http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.frogcollecting.com/gallery/A2t.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.frogcollecting.com/gallery/gallery.html&h=97&w=80&sz=1&hl=en&start=8&um=1&tbnid=hR-tjkzZyAWtTM:&tbnh=81&tbnw=67&prev=/images%3Fq%3Danimated%2Bjumping%2Bfrog%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rls%3DGGLB,GGLB:1969-53,GGLB:en%26sa%3DN

State a hypothesis for the frog problem. Closing Question State a hypothesis for the frog problem.

Answer to Closing Question Answers will vary.