1. Analyzing Science Research
NEED TODAY
BRAINS
Analyzing Science Research
Students will learn the difference between CORRELATION and CAUSATION through a game.
ELL
IV-R-2-B-21
IV-R-2-B-22
IV-R-2-B-23
IV-R-2-B-28

2. Presentation Cues
No one wants to listen to the teacher the whole time;)
Volunteer/Class Discussion – quick answer from raised hand (remember/understand)
Pair/share – quick chat with neighbor and volunteer or teacher pick share (remember/understand/apply)
Group task – longer time for pair or group to apply, analyze, evaluate or create
Individual write – personal reflection on topic
Rotations – solve the station with group and write answer on paper, rotate with timer and stay with your group
5?Quiz – quick check for understanding about topic

3. Today we will analyze graphical relationships to determine correlation or causation
Game
Articles

4. I’ll KNOW I HAVE IT WHEN….
TODAY WE WILL…
Explore the concept of correlation through discussion and game.
I’ll KNOW I HAVE IT WHEN….
I can identify relationships in graphs
I will NEED…
NOTEBOOK
PENCIL
ELECTRONICS
Away UNTIL GAME!!!
I will TURN IN…
OUTSTANDING LABS

5. CORRELATION
When two events are related to eachother

6. POSITIVE CORRELATION Both go up OR both go down
When variables on axis, line goes up
When two lines being compared, lines move together

7. NEGATIVE CORRELATION When one goes up, the other goes down
When variables on axis, line goes down
When two lines being compared, lines cross

8. NO CORRELATION LINES HAVE NO REAL RELATIONSHIP
When variables on axis, DOTS everywhere
When two lines being compared, lines cross

9. Science gets tricky because of these things…
Just because two things are related, doesn’t mean that one is causing the other…
Melting ice cream doesn’t cause a sunburn!
They are both caused by the sun!

10. What is CAUSATION?
When one thing causes another to happen…

12. Just because two events related…

13. Just because two events related…

14. Just because two events related…

15. Just because two events related…

16. Just because two events related…

17. Just because two events related…

18. Just because two events related…

19. Just because two events related…

20. Just because two events related…

21. Just because two events related…

22. Controlled experiments are the only way to determine causation…
Once we see a positive correlation, then controlled experiments determine if one thing really is causing another!
Evidence =Correlation
Repetition of Controlled Experiments and Reasoning =Causation

23. Bad Science Makes cause effects off small amounts of corollary data
MEDIA often responsible for taking results from one study linking 2 things and writing paper saying it is cause-effect

24. Correlation vs Causation Example
New Zealand causes skin cancer

25. Correlation vs Causation Example
Daylight savings time causes strokes!

26. Still don’t get it?

27. Let’s play a little game
Kahoot.it

28. How do we know if an article is…
Good Source
Complete nonsense

29. Sometimes its hard to tell…
But there are some clues!

30. Authorship GOOD SOURCE QUESTIONABLE SOURCE Name of author displayed
Search for person reveals actual contact info
Anonymous (author not taking credit for work)
When searching person, no contact info on internet

31. Website domain
GOOD SOURCE
QUESTIONABLE SOURCE
.edu– only available to schools (must peer review before publishing)
.gov – only available to gov’t (usually research based, trust depends on trust in gov’t)
.org – only available to non-profits (usually non-biased, although may be trying to push a point)
.com – available to anyone (usually trying to make money)
.net – available to anyone (student beware)

32. Website info Has a “Contact Us” and/or “About us”
GOOD SOURCE
QUESTIONABLE SOURCE
Has a “Contact Us” and/or “About us”
Has a physical address by which to find author
No “Disclaimers” saying it is for “Entertainment”
No way to contact/ information about site or author
No physical address
“Disclaimers” state the site is for entertainment

33. Info Availability
GOOD SOURCE
QUESTIONABLE SOURCE
Information can be found on another “credible” source
Information found “exclusively” on that site
Or another uncredible source

34. Sources Clear
GOOD SOURCE
QUESTIONABLE SOURCE
Persons interviewed and research locations clearly given credit
According to Ernesto Marques at the University of Pennsylvania
Sources and research locations not given credit
“according to our source”

35. METHODS What was done to collect data… Examples Survey
One group does A while another does B
Group does X for Y amount of time

36. SAMPLE SIZE How many people were involved Or How many trials were done
LARGER IS TYPICALLY BETTER!

37. CONTROL One group gets A while another gets B OR
One group does C then does D
GIVES US COMPARISON TO BASE OUR RESULTS ON. MUST BE “BETTER, FASTER, STRONGER, ETC” THAN SOMETHING ELSE.

38. RESULTS Always going to be a numerical description…
Percentage
Ratio
Of what was observed in study

39. CONCLUSION
Sentence or two describing the meaning of the results.

40. BIAS
Preconceptions of scientists that could interfere with their design/interpretation of results
Feelings about topic (good or bad)
Expectations for success or failure
Who funded the research
Whether money will be made off research

41. ERROR
Problems with the research that could have contributed to incorrect results/conclusion
Flawed design (test not good test)
Lack of control (no comparison)
Inaccurate measurements (hard to tell from article)
Computational errors (problems with math, hard to tell without data table)
Unethical reporting (saying something that isn’t all true)

42. You will select good source article
Read both articles
Choose the one that is a credible source of information
You will only get credit if you choose correctly!