Does the amount of sleep a student gets affect how well the student does in school? 1. State the Problem 2.Give a proper Hypothesis 3.Identify the Independent Variable 4.Identify the Dependent Variable 5.Identify the Control 6.List four Constants Why is this a difficult project idea?

UNIT 1 Prologue & the Biological Perspective THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD Designing your Experiment

Scientific Inquiry Where does it start? Library research Scientific method –What is it? –Stages? Specific problem/question Formulate hypothesis Experimentation Analyze & interpret Conclude & summarize

Problem/Question Refer to Appendix I What are some qualities of a good problem or question? –Can it be answered? –Can it be refuted? –Is it testable? –Specific and no ambiguity Examples from Appendix I

Hypothesis Refer to Appendix I What is a hypothesis? From what is it derived? Qualities of good hypotheses… –Specific –All terms in it are defined –Testable Example in Appendix I

Experimentation “Designing an Experiment” Devise a procedure –Determine variables present Which will you manipulate? Which will you measure? What’s the role of extraneous variables? “controls” Dependent vs. Independent Appendix I, page A-3 –How will you measure?

A good vs. great experiment… “Control group” vs. experimental groups –General controls: the “normal” or no treatment –Positive controls: Definite results –Negative controls: Definitely no result Sample size considerations Carry-out your procedure Collect ALL data –Qualitative vs. quantitative data –Statistics

Analyze Data This does not mean evaluating the data. Only stating the data trends and doing some mathematical analysis. Graphing – Appendix II –Title! –Accuracy – graph paper! –Space evenly –Labeled axes – which variable goes where? –Connecting the dots vs. “best fit line”

Graphing Constructing a best fit line –Calculating the rate Extrapolating Interpolating –Is the rate the same? Calculating Rate m = y 2 -y 1 / x 2 -x 1

Summarize & Conclude Make conclusions based upon results –May require some more library research –Provide possible explanations Was your hypothesis supported or refuted? –Hypotheses are never proven Possible errors Avenues for further research

General Considerations “Designing an Experiment” –Page 1 –Last page

Plants in your parents’ room grow much taller and greener than plants in your sister’s room. Your sister listens to rap music, while your parents listen to classical music. 1.State the Problem 2.Give a proper Hypothesis 3.Identify the Independent Variable 4.Identify the Dependent Variable 5.Identify the Control 6.List four Constants

Types of Research Basic Research –How did the universe begin? –What are protons, neutrons, and electrons composed of? –How do slime molds reproduce? –What is the specific genetic code of the fruit fly? Applied Research –improve agricultural crop production –treat or cure a specific disease –improve the energy efficiency of homes, offices, or modes of transportation

METRIC SYSTEM All measures must be metric! Converting from the English system to metric –For your project Converting among metric

CONVERSIONS Use number line Factor-Label Method ALWAYS WRITE UNITS!!! – Numbers are only as meaningful as their units Example There are 12 inches in a foot, inches in a centimeter, and 3 feet in a yard. How many cm are in one yard?