1. Designing an Experiment The Scientific Method

2. The scientific method What does the study of fungus have in common with the study of human heart disease? How is research in the laboratory similar to research in the rainforest? All scientists ask questions about the world and try to find answers through observation and experimentation.

4. Observations

5. Problem

6. Observations Hypothesis Problem

7. Observations Experiment Hypothesis Problem

8. Observations Experiment Hypothesis Problem Controlled

9. Observations Experiment Hypothesis Problem Independent Controlled

10. Observations Experiment Hypothesis Problem Independent Controlled Dependent

11. Observations Experiment Hypothesis Problem Independent Controlled Results Dependent

12. Observations Experiment Hypothesis Problem Independent Controlled Results Dependent Conclusions

13. Scientific Method Practice An investigation was done to see if keeping the lights on for different amounts of time each day affected the number of eggs chickens lay. The time it takes to run a kilometer depends on the amount of exercise a person gets.

14. Publishing and repeating Investigations Scientists test one another’s work Inference- logical interpretation based on prior knowledge Theory- a well-tested explanation that has been tested many times and combines many observations A theory can be modified or changed as new evidence is found –Law- statements about events that always occur in nature

15. Types of Data Qualitative- characteristics that can’t be measured –Examples- color, texture, description Quantitative- counting or measuring –Examples- numerical data

16. Types of data Classify the data collected from a dolphin study as either qualitative or quantitative.

17. QualitativeQuantitative Dolphin colors range from gray to white. Dolphins in a pod engage in play behavior. Dolphins have smooth skin. The dolphin pod coral and chase fish into shallow waters for feeding. There are 9 dolphins in this pod. Dolphins eat the equivalent of 4 to 5% of their body mass everyday. The sonar frequency most often used by the dolphins is around 100 kHz. The dolphins communicate by whistling and clicking. The dolphins range in length from 2.1meters to 3.0 meters. Dolphin C has 24 conical teeth on each side of his jaw.

18. Graphing Data DRY Dependent Responding Y-axis MIX Manipulated Independent X-axis

19. A scientist wants to know if students will take better notes in class if they sit in more comfortable chairs. He asks one class to participate in attending three identical lectures at the same time each day. The first day, the students sit in regular chairs, the second day they sit in chairs with padded seats, and the third day, they sit in chairs with padded seats, backs, and arm rests. The scientist found that the students who sat in the chairs with padded seats took the longest and most detailed notes. The students who sat in regular chairs took average notes. The students who sat in the padded seats, backs, and arm rest chairs took fewer and less detailed notes. 1. What is the question she wants to address? 2.Create a Hypothesis for this experiment 3.What is the independent variable? 4. What is the dependent variable? 5. What do you think a reasonable conclusion would be?