1. The Scientific Method
By Miranda Simmons

2. Essential Question: How do scientists pose and answer questions about nature?

3. The Scientific Method The scientific method is a procedure that
scientists use to solve a problem.
It is a process of inquiry that involves
observations, questions, hypotheses,
predictions and test of predictions.

4. 1. Identify the problem.
Make an observation—information gathered using the senses.
Based on that observation, you can then ask a question.
The problem is always stated in the form of a question.

5. 2. Research the problem.
Do some background research to see what you can find out about the problem in question.

6. 3. Form a hypothesis.
If…
…then
Now that you have done a little research, you can form an
“educated” guess as to what you think the solution to
the problem is.
Must write in “if… then… statement” (cause and effect)

7. 4. Test the hypothesis. There can only be one variable to test.
Design and perform an experiment to test the hypothesis.
There can only be one variable to test.

8. Not like this though.

9. 5. Collect, record, and analyze data.

10. 6. Draw a conclusion.
If your conclusion does not support your hypothesis,
then, you must start over and come up with a new hypothesis.

11. If the conclusion does not support the hypothesis, the scientist forms another hypothesis and tests it again. If the conclusion supports the hypothesis, the experiment should be repeated many times. The hypothesis may then become a theory or a scientific law.

12. The scientific process is NOT just used by scientists.
You use it most everyday whether you realize
it or not!
Here is an Example!

13. 1. Identify the Problem. Why won’t my car start? Don’t cry!
Use the scientific method
to figure out why!

14. 2. Do some background research.

15. 3. Form a hypothesis
If I change the battery, then my car will start.

16. 4. Now test your hypothesis with an experiment.
What is an EASY EASY test (experiment) that you can
perform to see if the battery is dead?
Check to see if
the lights come on! OR
Check to see if the
radio comes on!

17. 5. Collect, Record and Analyze the Data.
In this case, it is as simple as making a mental note
that the lights did or did not come on!
Hmmm, the lights did come on!

18. 6. Draw a Conclusion. The car’s battery is not the reason why my car
won’t start.
In this case, the conclusion does not support the
hypothesis.

19. So now what??? You must form a new hypothesis!
If the conclusion does not support the hypothesis,
then you still have the problem.
You must form a new hypothesis!

20. Form a New Hypothesis.
If I put gas in my car, then it will crank.

21. Now test your hypothesis with an experiment.
What is an EASY EASY test (experiment) that you can
perform to see if the car is out of gas?
Check the
gas gauge!
Add gas! OR

22. Collect, Record and Analyze the Data.
In this case, it is as simple as making a mental note
that the car does or does not crank after gas has
been added!
Hmmm, the car will crank now!

23. In this case, the conclusion does support the hypothesis.
Draw a Conclusion.
The car would not start because it was out of gas.
In this case, the conclusion does support the hypothesis.

24. Problem is solved!
The End

25. Think! Can you can name all six steps?

26. Steps of the Scientific Method
Hey, did you get all that?
Steps of the Scientific Method
_______ ___ ______
_________the problem
Form a _________
_____ the hypothesis (with a what?)
5. Collect, record and ________ data.
6. _____ __ _________
Identify
the
problem
Research
hypothesis
Test
analyze
Draw a
conclusion

27. Okay, do it again!
Step 2
Step 1
Step 3
Step 5
Step 4
Step 6

28. How did you do?
Identify Problem

29. How did you do?
Research Problem
Identify Problem

30. How did you do?
Research Problem
Form hypothesis
Identify Problem

31. How did you do? Research Problem Form hypothesis Identify Problem
Test hypothesis

32. How did you do? Research Problem Form hypothesis Identify Problem
Collect, record,
analyze data
Test hypothesis

33. How did you do? Research Problem Form hypothesis Identify Problem
Collect, record,
analyze data
Test hypothesis
Draw conclusion

34. Steps of the Scientific Method
Identify the problem
Research the problem
Form a hypothesis
Test the hypothesis
5. Collect, record and analyze data
6. Draw a conclusion

35. Parts of an Experiment

36. Parts of an Experiment – The Variables
There are 3 types of variables
Independent variable – variable that you change (the cause);
Dependent variable – variable that changes as a
result of what you changed or manipulated in
the experiment (the result). This is what you want to measure
Controlled variables –(a.k.a. constants) are variables or factors that remain unchanged throughout the experiment

37. Problem: Do plants require sunlight in order to live?

38. Experiment: Procedure
Place one plant in sun light.
Place one plant in darkness.

39. What is the independent variable for this experiment?
LIGHT!

40. What is the dependent variable?
It’s the life of the plant.
Its whether the plant lives or dies.

41. What are some control variables?
Same kind of plant.
Same kind and amount of fertilizer.
Same amount of water.
Same temperature.

42. Other Control Variables
Same size plants.
Same type soil.
Same starting healthy condition.

43. Can you name even more control variables?
Same watering and feeding
time each day.
Same size pot.
Same amount of soil.

44. Another Example Problem: Do students perform better on tests while
listening to music?

45. Experiment: Procedure
One group of students gets
the music.
The other group of students
do not get music played while
taking their test.

46. What is the independent variable for this experiment?
Music!

47. What is the dependent variable?
The test grades.

48. What are some control variables?
Same test.
Same type of room
temperature
& environment.
Same amount of time to take test.

49. Parts of an Experiment – The Groups
The control group – is NOT exposed to the IV. Used for comparison to show
that that the result of an experiment
is really due to the condition being
tested.
The experimental group – group
that will receive experimental (independent) variable.

50. Parts of an Experiment – The Data
The data – info. gathered from observations
during an experiment.
Two types:
1. qualitative- collected through the senses
ex. color, texture, general properties
2. quantitative involves numbers (quantity)
or measurements - ex. how much?

51. Qualitative Data Qualitative data - collected through the senses
ex. color, texture, general properties.
Qualitative data are descriptions in words
It is based on some quality of an observation, such as sight, sound, color, odor, or texture.

52. Quantitative Data
Quantitative involves numbers (quantity) or measurements - ex. how much?
Quantitative data are numeric measurements.
The data is objective—they are the same no matter
who measures them.
It includes measurements such as mass, volume,
temperature, distance, concentration, time or frequency.

53. Suppose that a marine biologist
observes the behavior and
activities of dolphins.
She identifies different dolphins
within the group and observes
them every day for a month.
She records detailed
observations
about their behaviors.
Some of her observations are
qualitative data and some are
quantitative data.

54. Qualitative data examples
Dolphin colors range
from gray to white.
Dolphins in a pod
engage in play behavior.
Dolphins have smooth
skin.

55. Quantitative data examples
There are ten dolphins in
this pod.
Dolphins eat an equivalent
of 4-5% of their body
mass each day.
The sonar frequency most
often used by the
dolphins is around
100kHz.

56. Identify Data Types
Suppose that you are a biologist studying jackals in their natural
habitat in Africa.
You observe their behaviors and
interactions, and take pictures
of their interactions to study later.
Examine the photo & give:
*3 examples of qualitative data
*3 examples of quantitative data

57. Identify Data Types Examine the photo & give:
Suppose a team of scientists is studying the migration of animal species in Africa.
One of the scientists takes this photograph.
Examine the photo & give:
*3 examples of qualitative data
that could be collected during
this research
*3 examples of quantitative data

58. Theory v.s. Law
Theory – well tested explanation of how something in nature works; it is
well supported.
Ex. theory of the disappearance of the dinosaurs
Scientific Law – A rule of nature that states a fact, but does not attempt to explain it.
Ex. Newton’s 3 laws of motion

63. Science and Technology

64. *Science does not address things that cannot be tested, such as beauty or ethics.
*Science deals only with hypotheses that are testable and subject to modification as
knowledge and methods of testing advance.
* Hypotheses that are not testable, such as those involving supernatural causes, lie outside the realm of science.

65. Also, unapproachable by science are
questions such as,
What is the spiritual meaning of life?
* The quest for answers to questions like this lie in the realms of philosophy and religion.

66. Science, technology and society are connected in important ways
Technological advances stem from scientific
research, and research benefits from technology.
The goal of science is to understand natural
phenomena.
The goal of technology is to apply scientific
knowledge for some specific purpose.
Scientists often speak of discoveries.
Engineers often speak of inventions.

67. The beneficiaries of those inventions also include scientists, who use new technology in their research.
And scientific discoveries often lead to the
development of new technologies.
Science is driven by curiosity, whereas technology is driven by the needs and wants of people and on the social environment at times.

68. Technology has improved our standard of living in
ways, but not without having adverse consequences.
Technology that keeps people healthier has enabled Earth’s population to grow more than tenfold in the past three centuries, to more than 7 billion

69. The environmental effects of this
population growth can be devastating:
Global warming
Toxic wastes
Acid rain
Deforestation
Nuclear accidents
Extinction of species

70. Science can help us identify such problems and provide insight into what course of action may prevent further damage.
But solutions to these problems have as
much to do with politics, economics, and
cultural values as with science and
technology.

71. Now that science and technology have
become powerful aspects of society, every citizen has a responsibility to develop a reasonable amount of scientific literacy.
The science-technology-society relationship is an important aspect of a science course.

72. Why study science? Your knowledge of science can help you make
informed decisions about issues involving
endangered species, biotechnology, medical
research, and pollution control, to name a few.

73. Connections to Everyday Life:
birth and death
human population
nutrition, exercise and dieting
medical concerns of all kinds
agriculture, including forestry
biodiversity and endangered species
pollution and environmental changes due to
global warming.

74. Science and Your Health
An understanding of science on many different levels—genetic,
chemical, and cellular, for example—can help you make any number
of lifestyle choices that affect your health.
Why is it important to wear sunscreen?
What are the benefits of exercise?
What are the effects of using alcohol, illegal drugs, and tobacco?
Cigarette smoke does not just affect the lungs; it can also change a
person’s body chemistry.
Lower levels of monoamine oxidase in the brain can affect mood and
lower levels in the liver could contribute to high blood pressure.

75. Biologists and other scientists research environmental issues such as
pollution, biodiversity, habitat preservation, land conservation, and
natural resource use, but decisions about the future are not in the
hands of scientists.
It is up to everyone to make decisions based on evidence and
conclusions from many different sources.

76. Many technological advances stem from
the scientific study of life.
Evaluating everyday reports in the popular
press about a large range of subjects
requires critical thinking and some
familiarity with many areas of biology.

77. Some News Issues Related to science
Global warming
Air and water pollution
Endangered species
Genetic engineering
Test tube babies
Nutrition
Aerobic exercise
Weight control
Medical advances
AIDS and the immune system

78. Evolution is connected to our everyday lives
Evolution is the core theme of biology. Evolution tells us that all living species are descendants of ancestral species that have become modified as natural selection adapts populations to their environments. As environments change, populations change.

79. Biologists now recognize that differences in DNA among individuals, populations, and species reflect the pattern of evolutionary change.
Evolution teaches us that the environment matters
because it is a powerful selective force for traits
that best adapt populations to their environment.
Evolution affects everyday life in medicine, agriculture, forensics, and conservation.
Environmental changes are powerful selective pressures on the adaptive traits of many populations.

81. The End

82. Test the hypothesis (with an experiment)
Did ya? Huh? Did ya???
Identify the problem
Research the problem
Form a hypothesis
Test the hypothesis (with an experiment)
5. Collect, record and analyze data
6. Draw a conclusion