Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
1
Nature of Science/Scientific Method Unit 1
2
What Is Science? The goal of science is to:
investigate and understand the natural world explain events in the natural world use those explanations to make useful predictions In short, science is an organized way of using evidence to learn about the natural world.
3
Questions to Consider ANSWER… THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD!
How can we determine if something is fact or opinion? How can we determine an answer to a problem? ANSWER… THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD!
4
Step 1 Ask a Question - define the problem
- make sure only one problem is being studied based on your observation - observations are made by using your 5 senses touch taste smell sight hearing
5
Step 2 Research the problem
use all available resources to collect data on the subject being covered. Ex: library, internet, books, magazines, interviews, etc.
6
Step 5 Develop a Hypothesis -- educated guess
make it a short and definitive statement it should be in “If….” “Then….” format the “if part” = the hypothesis the “then part” = is what you think the results will be at the end of the controlled experiment. hypothesis can be changed.
7
Step 4 Develop a Controlled Experiment
contains only one experimental variable, known as the manipulated variable. I.E. the thing being tested Everything else in the experiment or all other variables must be the same. called constant variables keeping these the same allows the experimenter to show that it was the experimental variable that caused the results.
8
Variables in a Controlled Experiment
Manipulated Variable: variable are testing; also independent variable Control Set-Up: what you compare to, without manipulated variable Responding Variable: variable you measure; dependent variable Constant Variables: consistent between all trials
9
Step 5 Record and analyze the data the data may or may not support the
hypothesis. if the data proves the hypothesis wrong, change the hypothesis, not the data. if the data supports the hypothesis, additional experimentation must then take place to build documentation concerning the problem.
10
Types of Data Quantitative Data - expressed as numbers
- obtained by counting or measuring - Ex: 50 ml, 800 km, 45 sec Qualitative Data - descriptive - Ex: clear, spherical, smooth
11
Step 6 Draw A Conclusion - use the evidence to support
or refute the hypothesis - a proven hypotheis must stand up to additional testing - scientists test (repeat each others investigations
12
Example: Problem: Is Raid the best insecticide on the market?
Research: Look up information on insecticides– what are the active ingredients, how many insects will it kill, how much does it cost, etc, etc Hypothesis: Raid is the best insecticide on the market. If used, then it will kill insects 30% faster than other insecticides.
13
Experiment: Spray 5 plates with equal amounts of different insecticides. Cover each one with the same type and size of glass. Add equal amount of the same type of insects and place them side by side and time the results.
14
Collect data and analyze: This is done by writing down the # of insects that died or how fast they died and then organizing that information into a graph so you can better see what happened in the experiment. Conclusion: This is done after the data from the experiment has been collected and analyzed. In this step you will find out if you were correct and Raid was the best or if your hypothesis was rejected!
15
Comparative
16
Discovery/Research
17
Experimental
Similar presentations
© 2025 SlidePlayer.com. Inc.
All rights reserved.