1. Just What Is Science Anyway???
a journey through the scientific method...

2. The Write-Up Descriptive stats only - mean, standard deviation, range
words

3. Mandatory components Title Page Abstract Introduction Methods Results
Discussion
References
Appendices

4. The Scientific Method A very good way to do science Easy to follow
Repeatable
Thorough
Is the way it’s really done in the field!
Can be applied to any problem.

5. THIS MUST BE IN THE FORM OF A QUESTION!
What’s the Problem??
You need to state the question that you are going to be collecting data on. This problem is what your project will be answering.
THIS MUST BE IN THE FORM OF A QUESTION!
The question should not be able to be answered with a yes or no.

6. What’s the Purpose??
You need to state the purpose of your investigation - called the Purpose Statement
It needs to be clear to you (and the reader) exactly what you are investigating. Why are you doing the project you picked.

7. Should be stated in “I think or I believe” statements
Hypotheses
These are educated guesses - “educated” implies that the “guesses” are based on research!!!
Why do the experiment if someone else already has??!!??
Should be stated in “I think or I believe” statements

8. Procedure You need to list:
- the materials needed for your experiment.
- the steps that you are going to (or did) take to carry out your experiment.
It must be so detailed so that anyone who may dispute your work can reproduce exactly what you did.

9. more...
Control Group - the part of the experiment that is your basis for comparison
Constants - the parts of your experiment that do not change

10. Independent Variable
An Independent Variable is a factor manipulated by the experimenter. The effect of the independent variable is the focus of the study.
For example, when examining the effects of breast feeding upon intelligence, breast feeding is the independent variable.
OBJECTIVE 14| Explain the difference between an independent variable and a dependent variable.
Psychology 7e in Modules

11. Dependent Variable
A Dependent Variable is a factor that may change in response to an independent variable. In psychology, it is usually a behavior or a mental process.
For example, in our study on the effect of breast feeding upon intelligence, intelligence is the dependent variable.

12. Describing Data
A meaningful description of data is important in research. Misrepresentation may lead to incorrect conclusions.
OBJECTIVE 16| Explain how graphs can misrepresent data.
Psychology 7e in Modules

13. Measures of Central Tendency
Mode: The most frequently occurring score in a distribution.
Mean: The arithmetic average of scores in a distribution obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores that were added together.
Median: The middle score in a rank-ordered distribution.
OBJECTIVE 17| Describe three measures of central tendency and tell which is most affected by extreme scores.
Psychology 7e in Modules

14. Measures of Variation
Range: The difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution.
Standard Deviation: A computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean.
OBJECTIVE 18| Explain two measures of variation.
Psychology 7e in Modules

15. Results - Data Presentation
Data Tables- A simple way to organize your data.
Graphs - To help your data make visual Sense trends.
Written – Paragraph format
Remember Joe Friday “Just the Facts”

16. Conclusions Three Parts... Interpretation of Data
What do all of these numbers mean?
Do they make sense?
Why or why not?
How do the results relate to the topic at hand?

17. Conclusions - Continued
Analysis of Hypotheses
did your data support your hypotheses?

18. Conclusions – Continued Again
Error Analysis
what factors skewed your data?
how wrong is wrong?
Precision vs. Accuracy
if your data is accurate it is close to true value
if your data is precise it is consistent from trial to trial