1.1 Scientific Method Chapter 1

Warm-up What is “science?”

Objectives Students will be able to: Standards: Outline the steps of the scientific method Make inferences based on data Design a controlled experiment Identify DV & IV Standards: BIO.B.3.3.1

What is “Science?” An organized way to use evidence to learn about the natural world

Where does evidence come from? OBSERVATIONS! Scientists use observations to gather data

Types of Data QuaNtitative Qualitative data Numbers data Examples? Observations

What next? Observation: You are sitting in a train station. A man carrying a briefcase runs past you. You make an inference A logical interpretation of observations

Testing Evidence Ask a scientific question… A question that can be answered through experimentation Examples of a scientific question: Does Pepsi have more carbonation than Coke? What is the effect of smoke on lung cancer?

Testing Evidence What is a non-scientific question? Did Abraham Lincoln like the color blue? Is Monday night football more fun to watch that Sunday night football?

Testing Evidence Scientific Question or no? Why is basketball a boring sport? Did grass turn brown because it needs fertilizer? Does studying for a test positively impact the result? Why is Dunkin’ Donuts coffee tastier than Wawa’s?

Answering the question A hypothesis is a possible explanation for a set of observations A possible answer to the scientific question

Answering the question True or False: There is only one hypothesis for a set of observations. It needs to be a testable statement A hypothesis is always correct

Activity: Inference Cubes

So you have a hypothesis… How do you figure out if your hypothesis is correct? Answer: EXPERIMENTATION

Designing an Experiment An experiment tests an hypothesis An experiment compares two or more groups Ex: fertilizer vs. no fertilizer

Designing an Experiment An experiment involves variables Variables = factors that can change Controlled variables: variables that are the same in the two groups Independent or manipulated variable: the single factor that is different between the two groups Dependent or responding variable: the result of the experiment, what is measured

Independent or manipulated variable Dependent or respondent variable Practice Controlled variable Independent or manipulated variable Dependent or respondent variable

Practice: Redi’s Experiment

Activity: Simpson’s Experiments