1. Scientific Questions What makes something art?
Questions that CAN NOT be answered by science
Questions that CAN be answered by science
What makes something art?
What materials should be used to make artwork that will last a long time?
What makes certain artwork “beautiful”?
Which type of chemical reactions make the pigments used for paint?
How much is this piece of artwork “worth”?

2. The Scientific Method prove evidence data supports NO dynamic creative
Scientists do NOT “_________” anything. The mindset in scientific research is to collect enough ____________ to disprove as many explanations as possible so that we can be confident that the _________ _____________ the only reasonable explanation left. Contrary to popular belief, there is _____ single “SCIENTIFIC METHOD”. Actually, science uses a variety methods that are used in very __________and __________, yet _________________ ways. __________ and ________ scientific reasoning is the use of evidence when making ____________ and conclusions.
prove
evidence
data
supports NO
dynamic
creative
reproducible
Reliable
valid
inferences

3. 4 Parts of Scientific Experimental Design
Independent Variable
Dependent Variable
The part of the experiment that “I” the scientist change on purpose
“Depends” on the IV
IV causes a DV effect
The result
The information that you measure or record
4 Parts of Scientific Experimental Design
Control
Constants
Used for comparison!
Stay the same throughout
Constants reduce error

4. action result reasoning
Structure of a Hypothesis
A hypothesis is a ______________ ______________ based on science knowledge or background research.
testable
prediction
action
[IV]
result
[DV]
If _________________ then _________________ because ______________________________ .
reasoning
[research]

5. Let’s Analyze and Critique An Experiment
Turn & Talk: Make at least 3 critiques Record your critiques on the handout

6. this experimental design
Let’s Analyze and Critique An Experiment
Some critiques of
this experimental design
“Best” is not a specific. It could mean the biggest, fastest, most nutrients, reddest, greatest number of tomatoes per plant, most tasteful, and more. It seems like the student may actually be after which grows the “tallest”, but it is unclear.
Planting only 1 seed is not reliable! In study such as this MANY MANY seeds would be needed to adjust for many potential sources of error. Even more than multiple seeds per pot, many more pots for each of the fertilizers would be a more valid experimental design.
The biggest problem with this experiment is that the student gives the seeds all 3 kinds of fertilizer in each pot. This is completely invalid because there is more there is no clear separation of test groups for the independent variable. If all three fertilizers are applied to all plants there is no way to investigate which fertilizer is or is not having an effect on the plants.
7 days is not even enough time to measure seed germination (how long it takes them to sprout from the seed) for most species of plants. An experiment like this would take weeks, if not months.