Transcript Scientific method notes - Shelton School District

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Science= Latin for “to know”
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Biology= Science of Life
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Inquiry= People asking questions
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Observation= The use of the senses to gather
and record information
CONTROLLED
EXPERIMENT
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Tests one variable
Eliminate or control
other variables
Control
setting/environment
Experimental control
UNCONTROLLED
EXPERIMENT
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Tests multiple
variables
No experimental
control
Held in open setting
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Introduction (observe something you want to
know about)
Question (a question that can be answered by
and investigation)
Hypothesis (a prediction that is educated and
can be tested)
Materials
Procedure
Data (Data table, Graph)
Conclusion
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Manipulated Variable: What is changed
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Responding Variable: What is measured
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Controlled Variable: What stays the same
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Experimental Control: What the experiment is
being compared to (a normal/unchanged test
subject)
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Hypothesis: An educated guess that can be
tested by an investigation
Written in If…..,then…..,because……
On the next slide let’s practice writing
hypotheses.
Remember
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If(manipulated variable), then (responding variable),
because (scientific explanation)
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What effect does studying with music have on
a student’s test scores?
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How do I make this a hypothesis?
 Identify the variable
 Change the format
 Make a prediction
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What effect does studying with music have on
student test scores?
What is being changed and measured?
The red words tell us what is being changed
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Studying with or without music
The yellow words tell us what is being
measured.
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Student test scores
Using this information, write a hypothesis
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What effect does studying with music have on
student test scores?
Here is an example:
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If a student studies with music, then they will have
higher test scores, because they aren’t being
distracted while they study.
1.
2.
3.
What effect does the color of food have on the
amount of food fish eat?
What effect does smiling have on a teacher
giving no homework?
How does serving mystery meat for lunch
change the length of the lunch line?
1.
2.
3.
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What effect does the color of food have on the
amount of food fish eat?
What effect does smiling have on a teacher
giving no homework?
How does serving mystery meat for lunch
change the length of the lunch line?
Using these hints of variables please write
your own hypotheses in
if….,then….,because…. format
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Quantitative data: Measurements or
observations recorded numerically
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Ex:
 5 pounds
 8 feet
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Qualitative data: measurements or
observations recorded as descriptions
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Ex:
 Mom is blond haired
 The building is square
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1.
2.
3.
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5.
6.
Identify each in you notes as quantitative(QA)
or qualitative (QL)
The ball was red, bouncy, and smooth
The ball bounced 5 mm high
The boy skateboarded the course in 20 seconds
The girl ran the race in 15 seconds
The frog was not moving, cold to the touch,
and dry
The experiment made 1 pound of goo each
minute and it was green and squishy.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Qualitative (QL)
Quantitative (QA)
Quantitative (QA)
Quantitative (QA)
Qualitative (QL)
Both (QA and QL)
Use the information below to write a testable
question for an experiment
1). MV: Change In Light
RV: Growth of grass seed
Hypothesis: If the light level of a grass seed is
changed from normal, then it will grow less,
because it will be outside of it’s normal
environment.
CV: Seed type, Soil, Temperature
Measurement: Measure seed growth in cm or
mm.
Use the information below to write a testable
question for an experiment
2). MV: Use of boric acid
RV: Movement of ant across the paper
Hypothesis: If Boric acid is placed on a piece of
paper, then an ant will not cross the paper,
because they will not want to step on the acid.
CV: paper type, Ant type, Light level
Measurement: Whether an ant crosses the
paper or not, yes or no.
Use the information below to decide what
measurements should be used in this
experiment
3). MV: Change in Temperature
RV: Growth of radish seeds
Hypothesis: If the temperature of a radish seed
is changed then it will grow less because it was
placed in an unfamiliar environment
Measurement:__________________________
Use the variable to write a questions and
hypothesis.
4). MV: Use of vitamins
RV: Kitten Growth
Hypothesis____________________________.
Question:______________________________.
Questions 1-4 will be talked about in class on
Tuesday 02/17/11
Make sure to have completed these questions in
your notes
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If chocolate is given to teachers, then amount of
homework will decrease, because the teacher is
happy!
If trees have leaves, then bird nests will
increase because the leaves protect them from
view
If plants are watered, then growth height will
increase because plants use water to make
food.
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If chocolate is given to teachers, then amount of
homework will decrease, because the teacher is
happy!
If trees have leaves, then bird nests will
increase because the leaves protect them from
view
If plants are watered, then growth height will
increase because plants use water to make
food.
MV
RV
THEORY
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LAW
A well tested
explanation of
a scientific
observation
supported by
data
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A statement
about a
scientific event
that has been
proven to be
fact by data
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Inference: Logical Conclusion based on an
observation
Generalization: When many specific
observations are put together to reach a general
conclusion.
Theory: A well tested explanation that makes
sense of many varied scientific observations.
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Theory of Natural selection
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Reliability: To increase precision and accuracy
in your experiment
Validity: repeat experiment/more trials