1. Introduction to science, biology, and experimental design
The Scientific Method
Introduction to science, biology, and experimental design

2. What is biology? Bio = living Ology = study of So, biology means … ?
Can you think of any other words that start with bio?
Can you think of any other words that end with -ology?

3. What is science? The goal of science is to: How do scientists do this?
Investigate the natural world
To explain events in the natural world
And to use those explanations to make useful predictions
How do scientists do this?

4. Thinking like a scientist
Scientific thinking usually starts with an observation.
Process of gathering information about events or processes in an orderly way
Use senses
The information gathered from observations is called data

5. Types of data There are two types of data:
1. Quantitative: expressed as numbers
2. Qualitative: descriptive and involve characteristics that can’t usually be counted
Think quality

6. What comes after an observation?
Hypothesis
An educated guess
Testable!!
Hypotheses may be wrong, and that’s ok
It can be changed
Typically an “if,” “then” statement
Short and definitive

7. How Scientists Work
1. Define the problem. Make sure only one problem is being studied
Done through observation
2. Research the problem. Use all available resources to collect data on the subject
3. Develop a hypothesis
4. Develop a controlled experiement.

8. Controlled Experiment
SAFETY!!!
Experiment: a procedure that tests a hypothesis by the process of collecting information under controlled conditions
1. control: the standard or group in which all conditions are kept the same
2. experimental: the test group where only ONE variable is altered
3. Independent variable: the condition that is being changed (a.k.a. manipulated variable)
4. dependent variable: measurable condition resulting from change in the experiment (a.k.a. responding variable)

9. Next …
5. Gather and analyze data: process in which scientists gather information (data) about their experiments
Thinking about what happened
How can scientists gather and organize information?

10. Helpful Hint DRY MIX DRY MIX Dependent variable Responding variable
Y-axis
MIX
Manipulated variable
Independent variable
X-axis

11. Last Step 6. Forming conclusions
May or may not support the hypothesis (and that’s ok!)
Additional experimentation to build documentation
If the hypothesis is wrong, change the hypothesis, NOT THE DATA!!
Why?

12. Other Information to Consider
Reporting results
Who’s interested
Verifying results
Experiments should be re-testable
Plagiarism
Falsifying data

13. How do theories and laws develop?
Theory: well tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations
May become a dominant view, but is not an absolute truth
Law: well tested explanation that is dependable enough to be a “law”
One step further than a theory

14. When experiments are not possible
Animals in the wild
Humans
Values and ethics

15. A little practice
Your report is due tomorrow morning and it must be typed on the computer. You enter the report in the computer and then give the command to print. Nothing happens. No, this is not a nightmare. It is really happening, and you need help. What do you do?
State the problem
Form a hypothesis
How will you test your hypothesis?
Where were the results of your experiment?
What can you conclude?

16. More practice
You have just baked your first batch of cookies for the school bake sale, but find that the cookies are too hard and dry. Assuming you have enough time to make more cookies, describe the steps you would take to solve the problem.
State the problem.
Form a hypothesis.
How will you test your hypothesis?
What were the results of your experiment?
What can you conclude?

17. Scientific Method Graphic Organizer: Use these terms to fill in the blanks
Communicate the results
Analyze the data
Create an experiment
Modify the experiment
Identify the problem
Form a hypothesis
Perform the experiment
Process
Answers
Information
Guess
Educated
Steps
Problem
Question
Organized