1. How Science Works

2. What is Scientific Method?
A process of investigating a scientific question that can be done IN ANY ORDER

4. What is a hypothesis?
A possible explanation or answer to a scientific question
(don’t say “an educated guess”)

5. A valid hypothesis is Testable
(there is an experiment that can be done or data that can be gathered)
2. Falsifiable—can be shown to be false if in fact it is false

6. Outside of the realm of science
Supernatural forces
God
Aliens (at least for now)

8. Scientists DO NOT say “The hypothesis is correct.”
They say
“The hypothesis is supported by the data.”
Why?
There is always more data out there: no one can gather all of it

9. What is a theory?
An explanation or model that makes sense of many observations, has been confirmed in numerous experiments, and leads to testable hypotheses

10. If scientists never say “We know this for sure,” what good is science?
The best explanations we have for how the natural world works:
Constantly being tested
Useful in everyday life (like gravity)
Peer reviewed and published so others can examine the findings: no secrets
High standards of evidence: multiple trials with repeatable results

11. Case study

12. Mimicry
Looking like the dangerous guy, when you’re really not

13. What is the purpose of mimicry?
Hypothesis: Predators confuse the mimics with the dangerous species.
Prediction: Predators will attack plain looking organisms and leave the mimics alone.

14. Controlled variable vs. control group
Controlled variables—
Things kept the same
Great for the laboratory where it’s easy to regulate things but not always great in the real world

15. Out in nature Example: effect of fertilizer
Field 1 gets the fertilizer (experimental)
Field 2 gets no fertilizer (control)
Can’t control every other variable, but since both fields are in same environment you assume other factors cancel each other out

16. Assignment Book pp 33-34 king snake v. coral snake experiment
Identify on back of your paper:
--IV
--DV
--CV
--control group

17. Control group
The group that doesn’t receive the experimental treatment
Example: medicine testing
Experimental group gets the medicine and control group gets a placebo