1. Doing Science
AP Biology

2. What have we already said about science?
Science is a way of finding answers to questions that NO ONE knows the answer to.
NO looking it up in a book
NO asking someone
So how do you know if you are right??
Maybe you don’t for a very long time…or ever.

3. Can Science answer ALL questions?NO
Science can only answer questions about the NATURAL (meaning PHYSICAL) world / universe in which we live
NOT moral / ethical questions
Science cannot tell us if something is right or wrong
NOT questions regarding the supernatural
The supernatural, by definition is NOT bound by the laws of nature
FALSIFABLE Hypotheses cannot be made regarding the supernatural
Science cannot tell us if there is a God, if ghosts exist, etc. because these entities are not limited by the laws of nature

4. So what can science do?
Science can help us answer questions about our natural world
It does this by giving us a set of tools and a framework to methodically seek information
Observation
Experimentation
Often in a flexible framework we call the SCIENTIFIC METHOD

5. Scientific Method A FLEXIBLE series of steps
Observe a problem
Form a question regarding this problem
Form a hypothesis
Research to see if your question has already been answered
Design an experiment
IV, DV, constants, control
Determine data collection methods; analysis that will be done
Carry out the experiment and collect data
Analyze data
Draw conclusion
Share findings
At ANY point, re-evaluation and even a complete overhaul of the process is possible!

6. Observe a problem
CAREFULLY observe The Box O’ Science

7. Form a Question regarding the problem…
How the heck does it do that?
More fluid out than in
Fluid out is different color than what went in

8. Form a Hypothesis regarding the question
An educated guess as to a possible explanation or answer to the question…
How can you explain your observations regarding the Box???

9. The Importance of a Testable Hypothesis
Hypothesis – a tentative answer to some question
Having a TESTABLE hypothesis is critical to carrying out the scientific method.
Having a hypothesis that is actually testable by the scientific method LIMITS the kinds of questions the scientific method can answer.
“Scott falls asleep in class because the ‘devil makes him do it’” is not a testable hypothesis.

10. Other Important Points Regarding Hypotheses
Hypotheses are possible explanations for some phenomenon.
Never just a statement or observation. Must seek to explain WHY something is happening.
Hypotheses reflect past experience
In other words, hypotheses should seem reasonable…at least this is where hypotheses should start.
Multiple hypotheses should be proposed whenever possible
This helps a scientist avoid “favoring” a particular outcome in an experiment.
Again, Hypotheses should be TESTABLE.
Hypotheses can be eliminated but NOT confirmed or “proven” with absolute certainty.
Even the most thoroughly tested hypotheses are accepted only conditionally , pending further investigation.

11. Research Well…you could research it, BUT This means you will have to…
Not likely to find anything about “coleman’s Box O’ Science” in the library or on Google…
Could ASK others, BUT…ALL students who know the secret have GRADUATED AND they have been SWORN to SECRECY
Their ears will fall off if they tell. It will be very obvious.
This means you will have to…

12. Design an experiment to test your hypothesis
In actuality there are LOTS of ways to test hypotheses or answer questions that do not necessarily involve a controlled experiment
Observation of wildlife; simply watching and recording have told us volumes…
Making models…when the system is too big to do an experiment with (for example, Earth’s Climate) then computer models are the next best thing…

13. Biologists use forms of inquiry to explore life
Two main processes of scientific inquiry
Discovery Science
Observation based
Hypothesis-based Science
Controlled experiment based

14. Controlled Experiments
Subjects are divided into two groups
Experimental
Control
The two groups should be treated exactly alike EXCEPT for the ONE variable the experiment is designed to test
This provides a basis for comparison

15. Designing a Controlled Experiment
This is the textbook stuff you need to know…
Independent Variable
The thing you manipulate
Dependent Variable
The thing you measure
Control Treatment
A set-up of the experiment that does NOT get the independent variable
It’s “NORMAL”
STANDARD OF COMPARISON
Experimental Treatment(s)
The set-up of the experiment that gets the independent variable…maybe several different set-ups receive several different versions of the IV
Constants
Everything that is NOT the IV must be held the SAME between all treatments
Multiple Trials
Repititons of the experiment
Do NOT reduce errors in the experiment, but LIMIT the EFFECTS of errors on DATA

16. Also… Designing the experiment should include
Anticipating what type of data you will collect and HOW you will collect it
Data tables made, etc. beforehand
What TYPES of data will be collected
Qualitative
descriptive
Quantitative
numerical
Anticipating how you will ANALYZE this data when the time comes

17. Run Experiment and Collect Data
Pretty self-explanatory

18. Analyze Data
Run statistical Analyses
Graphically display data

19. Draw Conclusions
Was your hypothesis supported by the results of the experiment?
What evidence leads you to this conclusion?
Note that the question is NOT “was your hypothesis PROVEN?”!!
Were there things about the experiment that should be improved upon?
Are there other questions that should be asked based on these results?

20. So…I supported my hypothesis! Do I have a Theory?
No.
What is a Theory?
In Common language
A guess; opinion
In science
Broad in scope
Spawns many hypotheses that can be tested
Supported by a massive body of evidence
Explain a great diversity of observations
Theories can also be modified and adjusted as new evidence comes to light
A BIG DEAL

21. Science as Process Science is simply a way of knowing.
Remember, it is not the only way of knowing.
It seeks to answer questions about the natural world
Science operates under the premise that questions about the natural world are answerable by making observations of the natural world and that the events observable in nature can be explained in terms of natural laws.
The supernatural is BEYOND the realm of scientific discussion because the supernatural is not bound by the laws of the natural world.
Science has no means of studying something that is not bound by the laws of nature.

22. Science vs. Technology Science – gain knowledge
Technology – use knowledge
Society must determine appropriate uses of knowledge

23. Science is a Social Activity
Not done in isolation
Both Good and Bad

24. A Critical Problem in Today’s Science
Spin
Be aware that science, like any other type of information can be politicized by different groups seeking certain political/commercial outcomes.
It is VERY difficult for even an educated person to tell the difference between “bad” science and “good” science.
Bad science – experiments designed to support a desired result
Good science – experiments designed to determine the answer to some question.
Be aware of the sources of published research; from whom they receive funding, etc. Think about what the researcher (and funder of the research) has to gain or to lose from the results of the research.
As you develop your ideas about all kinds of issues, do not just look for information to support the point of view you already hold. Look for information that tells you the truth. Admittedly, it is extremely difficult to tell the difference at times. AND it usually makes a simplistic black and white point of view a LOT harder to maintain – and most of us find this uncomfortable.

25. About Sharing Results Abstract Introduction Materials and Methods
A brief summary of the experiment
Introduction
Background; why the experiment was done; relevant information about the subject
Materials and Methods
How you did it; procedures; NOT a list of steps, though
Results
What your data showed; statistical analysis; graphs
Discussion
What your data mean; hypothesis supported or rejected and why you think so; problems with experiment; further work that should/could be done
References