Bellwork

What is the purpose of the scientific method?

The Scientific Method

Target #1: I can list the steps of the scientific method

• Observation• Hypothesis• Testing

Hypothesis/ Experimentation

• Analyze Data• Evaluate

Results/ Conclusion

Is the scientific method a linear or a circular process?

Why?

Target #2: I can describe observation• All scientific inquiry begins with

observation– Observation: using our senses to study

the world• Leads to scientific questions• Can be recorded as data to be analyzed

What does it really mean to observe something? What does it look like?

Target #3: I can explain the role hypotheses play in scientific inquiry

• Scientists use data to form a hypothesis–Hypothesis: a proposed answer for a

scientific question• Must be specific and testable

• Hypotheses play an important role in scientific inquiry by providing a testable explanation for an observation

Target #4- I can write a hypothesis from a given question/problem

• Easy way to formulate hypothesis is to use “if/then” statements

• Question/problem: I’m short on cooking time. Will my water boil faster if I start with warm water or with cold?

• Hypothesis: If the temperature of the water affects the time it takes to boil water, then the amount of time it takes to boil the cold water will be less then the amount of time it takes to boil the hot water

Practice

• Problem A: I wear cologne/perfume and I want to know how to determine what type of perfume is better to buy.–Ex: If the cologne/perfume is better then other brands then the scent will last longer when sampled

Think-Pair-Share

Take 2 min and come up with your own problem/question.

Then write a hypothesis for your problem/question that you can

test

Target #5- I can explain the purpose of experimentation

• Testing a hypothesis involves either conducting an experiment or making further observations

• Experimentation requires a good procedure– Ensures that testing is specific

and results will be meaningful– Should always include a control

group• Control group does not go through

the steps of the experiment, nor is exposed to the factor being tested

– Modeling is an effective tool to predict what will happen• Modeling represents a real, or

actual, subject

Target #6: I can

differentiate between

a dependent

and an independent variable

• In experiments, scientists study factors called independent and dependent variables to find cause-and-effect relationships

Target #6- cont.

– Independent Variable: a condition in an experiment that is manipulated or changed• Effects are measured by

the dependent variable

–Dependent Variable: experimental data that is observed and measured during an experiment• Affected by the

independent variable

Checking for Understanding (CFU)

Why is it important to have both an independent and a dependent variable?

Target #7- I can explain the role of data in an experiment

• The role of data is to explain the results of the experiment– Should be observable

and objective– Should not be based

on opinion– Can be displayed in

graph or table format

• Having many trials means less chance for statistical error

Thinking further…

If the data does not support the

hypothesis, what do you do next?

Target #8: I can explain the difference between a scientific theory and the word theory used in conversation

• Scientific Theory: a widely accepted explanation that is supported by evidence–Different from the word

theory used in conversational language• Theory in

conversational language usually means ”a guess”

–Can change based on new evidence

Explanation

What is the difference between a hypothesis

and a theory?