Scientific Method. How Science is done.

Transcription

1 Scientific Method How Science is done.

2 Scientific Method The scientific method is a way to ask and answer scientific questions by making observations and doing experiments. The steps of the scientific method are to: Make observations to ask a Question Do Background Research Construct a Hypothesis Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment Analyze Your Data and Draw a Conclusion Communicate Your Results

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5 Importance of the Scientific Method The scientific method is the best way yet discovered for winnowing the truth from lies and delusion. The great advantage of the scientific method is that it is unprejudiced: one does not have to believe a given researcher, one can redo the experiment and determine whether his/her results are true or false. The conclusions will hold irrespective of the state of mind, or the religious persuasion, or the state of consciousness of the investigator and/or the subject of the investigation.

6 Vocabulary of the Scientific Method Direct Observation Indirect Observation Hypothesis Variables Independent Variable Dependent Variable Constants Experiment Control Group Experimental Group Data Conclusion Theory

7 Vocab cont Direct Observation Observations made directly with ones senses such as hearing thunder. Indirect Observation Observations made with the use of instruments such as using a telescope to view a planet more closely. Hypothesis - This is an educated guess or a working assumption that is made before an experiment. Variables - factors that are being tested in the experiment

8 Ask a Question The scientific method starts when you ask a question about something that you observe: How, What, When, Who, Which, Why, or Where? And, in order for the scientific method to answer the question it must be about something that you can measure, preferably with a number.

9 Do Background Research Builds your awareness of how you're building on other scientists' work.» If you think of the scientific community as engaging in a series of conversations about various topics, then you'll recognize that the relevant background material will alert the reader to which conversation you want to enter.

10 Write a Hypothesis Most hypotheses contain both an independent and a dependent variable. Be sure that your hypothesis includes both variables.

11 Figure 1.24a Observations Question Hypothesis #1: Dead batteries Hypothesis #2: Burnt-out bulb

12 Vocab cont Independent Variable - This is what you as a scientist are testing in an experiment. You should only change one thing at a time in an experiment. Dependent Variable - The dependent variable is what changed due to the change brought by the independent variable. Constants - Anything that you keep the same, or did not change during the experiment is a constant. Control Group - The control is used to compare with experimental group to see if there are any differences.

13 Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment Your experiment tests whether your hypothesis is true or false. You conduct a fair test by making sure that you change only one factor at a time while keeping all other conditions the same. You should also repeat your experiments several times to make sure that the first results weren't just an accident.

14 Vocab cont Data - These are observations or numerical facts gathered during the experiment. Conclusion This is the results of your experiments as they relate to your hypothesis. Theory - A hypothesis which has been accepted as true, which has been tested many times and which has never been proven false after many years. A theory is not usually an isolated bit of information, but, on the contrary, it is usually combined with other related hypotheses to form a general frame-work which explains certain phenomenon.

15 Analyze Your Data Once your experiment is complete, you collect your measurements and analyze them to see if your hypothesis is true or false. Analysis: Review your data. Calculate an average for the different trials of your experiment Graph information gathered in your experiment Make sure to clearly label all tables and graphs. And, include the units of measurement.

16 Draw a Conclusion Your conclusion summarizes how your results support or contradict your original hypothesis. Conclusion: State whether your results support or contradict your hypothesis. Summarize and evaluate your experimental procedure, making comments about its success and effectiveness. Suggest changes in the experimental procedure (or design) and/or possibilities for further study.

17 Figure 1.24b Hypothesis #1: Dead batteries Hypothesis #2: Burnt-out bulb Prediction: Replacing batteries will fix problem Prediction: Replacing bulb will fix problem Test of prediction Test of prediction Test falsifies hypothesis Test does not falsify hypothesis

18 Parts of a Scientific Paper