1. Hypothesis-Based Science
The Scientific Method

2. Science as Inquiry
The process of investigation to answer questions about the natural world

3. Discovery Science Emphasizes Inquiry and Observation
Describes natural structures or processes as accurately as possible through careful observation and data collection - Jane Goodall
Inferences in Science
Logical conclusions based on observations
They help to refine general questions into specific questions
Generalizations
General conclusions put together from many specific observations
**Generalizations describe patterns. There will be exceptions to those patterns.**
Ex. - the cell theory; girls stop growing before boys; it is always dark at midnight

4. The Scientific Method
An organized way to solve a problem through experimentation & observation. 4

5. The Steps of the Scientific Method

6. 1. State the Problem (Observations)
Form a question about a specific event or reaction
Examples:
Does soap kill plants?
What type of food do goldfish prefer?

7. 2. Collect Information (Question)
Research the problem
Internet
Scientific Papers

8. Other Ways to Collect Information
Observation- the act of observing (touch, taste, smell, feel, see, etc.)
Direct
Indirect
Inference- a quick, logical conclusion that attempts to explain an observation and helps refine a general question into specific questions for study

9. Observation vs. Inference
The doorbell rang.
Someone is at the door.
Mom saw me sneaking out.
I’m going to get grounded.

10. 3. Form a hypothesis Make an educated guess based on your research.
Hypothesis- a tentative explanation that accounts for a set of facts & that can be tested by further investigation
Examples:
Plants exposed to soap will die.
Fish prefer Miller brand flakes.
A hypothesis must be:
TESTABLE (able to be tested)
FALSIFIABLE (able to be proven false)

11. Making Predictions
Prediction- to forecast; to guess the outcome of a situation beforehand
Often an “if…,then…” statement that explains what will happen if the hypothesis is correct.
IF: state the variable you will change to test the hypothesis
THEN: state what you think will happen
Examples:
If I water plants with soap water, then the plants will die.
If I feed the fish different foods, then they will eat more of the Miller brand flakes.

12. 4. Design an Experiment Devise a way to test your hypothesis. Create a
CONTROLLED
experiment.
Controlled Experiment- an experiment in which all variables except the ONE being tested are identical in order to make the experiment fair & the results reliable

13. ONLY 1 condition is changed!
A controlled experiment MUST have 2 groups.
CONTROL GROUP: all conditions remain the same
EXPERIMENTAL GROUP: only the condition that you are testing for is changed
ONLY 1 condition is changed!

14. Establish the variables for your experiment.
Variable- any factor in an experiment that could affect the results & is therefore tested separately
CONTROLLED VARIABLE: the variable that is not changed
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE: the variable that is changed, purposely manipulated (manipulated variable; X axis for graphing)
DEPENDENT VARIABLE: the variable being observed that changes in response to the independent variable (responding variable; Y axis for graphing)

15. 5. Collect & Analyze Data Run the experiment & document the data
We make observations using our senses to collect and analyze data. Technology can also assist us in collecting and analyzing data.
Data- recorded observations or measurements
Data Should Be:
Clearly organized
Recorded at consistent intervals
Reliable

16. Data Types
Quantitative Data- data that involves numbers or measurement usually in the form of a chart or graph
Qualitative Data- anecdotal or descriptive data that does NOT involve numbers or measurement

17. QUANTITATIVE: numerical data, deals with specific quantities, usually in the form of a graph or chart
QUALITATIVE: descriptive data, describes how something looks, smells, sounds, or feels; deals with qualities

18. 6. Draw Conclusions
The data will either SUPPORT or CONTRADICT the hypothesis (Never use “prove”)
Conclusion- to close or bring to an end; to accept or reject a hypothesis in an experiment

19. Consider Sources of Error
Sources of Error – anything that could affect the outcome of the experiment
“I measured wrong” is not an acceptable source of error
Examples:
One of the plants was sick
One of the plants received more light than the others

20. Communicating Results
Scientific discoveries must be communicated to other scientists to be scrutinized.
Ways to communicate:
Peer-reviewed journals
Scientific conferences
Internet

21. Communicating Results
Other scientists must be able to:
Evaluate your data for errors
Repeat your experiment
Obtain similar results
Science values skepticism
***This is why communication is critical!***

22. Scientific Models
Model – a representation of how we understand a process or idea
Can be:
Physical
Mental
Mathematical
Helpful to understand difficult concepts

23. Progression of Ideas in Science
Hypothesis- a possible explanation to a question based on information the scientist has already gathered
- If experiments show a hypothesis to be correct, other scientists may accept it as support for a scientific theory.
EX: Plants obtain their energy from the sun.

24. Progression of Ideas in Science
Scientific Theory- a general statement of why things work based on hypotheses that have been tested many times; an explanation of a large body of information, experimental and inferential, and serves as an overarching framework for numerous concepts. It is subject to change as new evidence becomes available.

25. Progression of Ideas in Science
- Theories are used to explain & predict the outcome of other experiments
- Theories must be tested
- Sometimes they are wrong & must be modified or discarded
EX: The Earth is flat.

26. Progression of Ideas in Science
Scientific Law- a statement of what happens in a certain event based on verified observations & experiments; a basic scientific theory that is no longer tested & is generally accepted as true

27. Progression of Ideas in Science
- Explains what happens & not why
- Summaries of the results of many, many experiments & observations
- When results of a series of experiments are the same each time that they no longer need to be tested
EX: Newton’s Law of Gravity

28. Progression of Ideas in Science
Which one is most likely to be wrong- hypothesis, theory, or law?
Hypothesis
Theory
Law 1. 2. 3.

29. Limitations of Science
Although science is a “way of knowing”, it is not the only way
Ex. How do you know if you like a certain song?
Science CAN address natural explanations for natural phenomena
Science CANNOT address things such as personal preference or the supernatural

30. Technology
Science – understanding through observation and experimentation
Technology – the application of science for a purpose
Examples:
Computers
Genetic engineering of foods to make them pest-resistant
Medical applications